The government has informed the Supreme Court that the Health Ministry and also the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) have start with guidelines for issuing an “official document” for Covid-related deaths. The affidavit within the top court has been submitted nearly 10 days after the highest court rapped the central government over the delay in issuing guidelines for the issuance of Covid death certificates.
Only those COVID-19 cases are considered, say the rules, which are diagnosed through RT-PCR test, molecular test, rapid-antigen test or clinically determined through investigations at a hospital or in-patient facility by a treating physician, while admitted at hospital or in-patient facility.
Deaths occurring because of poisoning, suicide, homicide and accident, among others, won’t be considered as COVID-19 deaths whether or not the infection is an accompanying condition, the document further elaborates.
Patients who have “died either in hospital settings or reception, and where a Medical Certificate of reason behind Death (MCCD) in Form 4 and 4 A has been issued to the registering authority as needed under Section 10 of the Registration of Birth and Death (RBD) Act, 1969, are going to be treated as a COVID-19 death,” the rules read.
According to an ICMR study, says the affidavit, 95 per cent of deaths happen within 25 days of someone testing COVID-19 positive.
“To make the scope broader and more inclusive, deaths occurring within 30 days from the date of testing or from the date of being clinically determined as a COVID-19 case, are going to be treated as deaths because of COVID-19, whether or not the death takes place outside the hospital/in-patient facility,” it says.
However, a COVID-19 patient, while admitted at a hospital or in-patient facility, and who continued because the same admission beyond 30 days, and died subsequently, shall be treated as a Covid-19 death,” it added.
The guidelines state that in cases where the MCCD (Medical Certification of explanation for Death) isn’t available, or the family of the decedent isn’t satisfied with the reason for death given within the MCCD and which don’t seem to be covered by the above scenarios, states and union territories shall notify a committee at the district level.
The guidelines also mention the procedure to be followed by the committee, which has the members of the family submitting a petition to the district collector for the issuance of the document.
The committee also will examine the grievances of the family and also propose necessary remedial measures, including issuance of amended “Official Document for COVID-19 Death” after verifying the facts.
The applications for issuing the document and for redressal of grievances shall be disposed of within 30 days of submission of the applying.
