Supreme Court: Consider Suicides As COVID Deaths If COVID Was Accompanying Condition

On 13th September, 2021 the Supreme Court directed the Central Government to revisit its decision of not including death by suicide as Covid- 19 death even if COVID-19 is an accompanying condition. This is to simplify the process of issuing death certificates. As per the said guidelines, deaths occurring due to poisoning, suicide, homicide and deaths due to accident, among others, will not be considered as COVID-19 deaths even if COVID- 19 is an accompanying condition.

"In the death certificate also, if a person has died due to Covid-19 and/or any other complications/disease due to Covid-19, it should be specifically mentioned in the death certificate", the Court said.