A study conducted by the Kerala State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (K-SOTTO) among its empanelled doctors for brainstem death certification in the State has reported that despite their high clinical knowledge and legal awareness, the fear of future medicolegal litigation remained the single critical factor that prevented them from being more proactive about making brainstem death (BSD) certification a standard practice in ICUs.
This was a cross-sectional online survey using a structured questionnaire, conducted amongst neurologists, neurosurgeons, anaesthesiologists, intensivists and other empanelled BSD certifiers, to assess their knowledge, attitudes and perceived barriers to BSD certification.
