Deaths Due To Covid-19 Related Complications Should Also Be Specified As Covid-19 Deaths, Says Supreme Court

Supreme Court on June 30 made it clear that a death certificate issued in respect of a Covid-19 fatality must clearly specify the cause of death as Covid-19 itself. Also, if a person has died due to any other complications or disease due to Covid-19, then also the death certificate should specifically mention the cause of death as Covid-19. The top court also directed the Central Government and other appropriate authorities to issue guidelines to simplify the process of issuance of death certificates stating the cause of death as "death due to COVID". A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and MR Shah passed the direction in two PILs which raised the grievance that authorities were not issuing correct & accurate death certificates in respect of those who succumbed to Covid-19. Since the certificates are not accurately stating the cause of death as Covid-19, the petitioners submitted that the dependents are unable to avail the welfare benefits announced for Covid-19 victims. The Central Government said in its affidavit filed before the Court that deaths with a diagnosis of Covid-19, irrespective of co-morbidities, had to be certified as Covid-19 deaths. Watch the video to know more.