Death certificates of the new format will be printed shortly and put to use, informed BMC officials.
Doctors in the city will have to make it mandatory to ask the relatives of a deceased, if they want the eyes of their kin donated. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has changed the format of the death certificate to include a column on consent for eye donation.
“Doctors will ask the family members or relatives of the deceased for giving consent for eye donation after explaining the importance and easy procedure of eye donation. This may increase the number of eye donations in Mumbai,” said Dr Padmaja Keskar, executive health officer, BMC.
Death certificates of the new format will be printed shortly and put to use, informed BMC officials.
Eye donation helps those people whose cornea has been degenerated or damaged, to procure vision. Many persons lose their cornea in freak accidents or as a result of degenerative diseases.
In 2014, 403 patients were registered for corneal transplantation, said BMC, but only 246 persons got operated.
There is a gap between demand and supply and it is on an increase. “Hence motivating the family physicians or doctors in hsopital to get consent for eye donation will go along way in increasing eye donations in the city. Aware and sensitive mumbaikars if decide, there can definitely be an increase in eye donations which will help thousands of patients waiting to get vision, in Mumbai and rest of the state,” said Dr Keskar.
RADHEE Disaster and Education Foundation had approached BMC to include the column of eye donation consent from family members of the deceased in the Medical Certificate for Cause of Death (MCCD). BMC officials appreciated this unique idea saying that it will ensure an increase in the number of eye donations and have long term sustainable impact in the eradication of the corneal blindness in the city and state.
“Since MCCD is a uniform document used throughout India, any change in it's format would have to be approved from the state government. A proposal was put up by the BMC to the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) for the addition of the eye donation consent column in MCCD. In December 2014, the consent was given and the modified MCCD will be now be printed with addition of eye donation column and put to use,” said Dr Keskar.
If the family consents to eye donation, doctors or family members should immediately inform the Eye Donation Help Line – 1919
Doctors ask relatives for eye donation consent and then ensure -
Eyes of the deceased is closed
Wet cotton is put on both eyes
Fan is switched off and AC is switched on
The head of deceased is raised by six-inches by putting two pillows below the head
The eye can be recovered for up to 8 – 12 hours
It has to be put in special solution before 24 hours
The tissue of eye can be used for up to 7 days for eye transplant
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}