Being Classified As Brain Dead

What is brain death? Physicians and other health care professional have often accepted that a person is deceased when his or her brain is dead. Although the widespread use of mechanical ventilators and other advanced critical care services have transformed the course of terminal neurologic disorders. Through the advancements in medicine and technology, vital signs

While the doctors and originally the Supreme Court opposed this, the parents said otherwise. While they wanted her daughter to wake up, since that wasn’t going to happen, they wanted to end her suffering. They felt as though she was uncomfortable and in pain, stating “She tried desperately to free herself from the respirator, if she could have used her hands she would have” (via Washington Post). Legally, it was illegal for this to occur, but upon the Supreme Court allowing it, it was technically legal. Karen did not have a living will, therefore her parents were allowed to make the decision, but the doctors should also agree for this. So ethically, she should not have been taken off. But from a family perspective, it’s all about what the family members want for them. So regardless of whether it was a right or wrong decision, all point of views should be

In the case of Jani McMath, her parents, family, the court, as well as the medical staff, are all faced with the ethical dilemma of whether or not to pull the plug. Who has her best interest in mind? How do we know? We would assume her family because they are the closest ones to her, but the truth is that McMath is incapable of making the decision for herself; therefore, whether her life is preserved or not is left in the hands of others. She could have wanted the plugged pulled; then again, she could have wanted her family to be strong and continue to fight for her life.

Criteria for declaring death using neurological criteria developed, and today a whole brain definition of death is widely used and recognized as an acceptable way to determine death. (Iltis)

Jahi McMath a 13-year old Oakland girl is declared brain dead after complications during surgery to remove her tonsils, adenoids and uvula. The family has gained a court order to keep the child on a ventilator and removed her to an undisclosed care facility, her mother posted on face book status that she is doing much better physically now that she is away from the former hospital. Medical experts state that her body will continually decline.

A woman was on a ventilator and her end of life wishes clearly indicated that no resuscitation procedures to be followed. However, her son did not agree with her decision. He was very angry and upset and did not want to listen to anyone.

On April 15, 1975, Karen Ann Quinlan, unexpectedly fell to the ground, unconscious, and then slipped into a coma. The doctors could do nothing about her unhealthy state and after a long year Karen’s family decide that they should remove her feeding tubes, a breathing mechanical device, and medical help. The doctors refused to do this because they would get arrested without court permission thus sending the family to court. The family fought over it at court and finally won. Surprisingly, Karen did not die but 10 years later she passed away naturally. The fact that she survived led to many acts of controversy. Was it a good idea to let Karen ann go or should they have kept her on the machines to see what would happen? Through evidence and research,

Theologically and scientifically the concept of death has remained unopposed for centuries, however the idea of how do we conclude what is the true essence of living continues to be widely debated. A curveball case would be one regarding brain-dead patients. In December 2014, patient Jahi McMath of Oakland California – a state in which one who is brain dead is classified as not legally alive - was declared brain-dead by three doctors, thus lawfully ordered to be removed from life support. Valiant disagreement ensued upon her parents refusal to accept this judgement and till today Jahi is on life support. (Drummond, 2015). Fieser (2008) argues that the neurological theory holds the most rational denotation of death, in which absence of any form

In our lifetime, as we experience the loss of our loved ones, death is often perceived to be frightening and may provoke numerous feelings such as confusion and anger. The reality of the inevitability and permanence of death is an uncomfortable subject, but it is one that must be ultimately faced. When dealing with an extremely ill relative or a loved one that has been in a life-threatening accident, medical futility becomes a looming topic. According to the article “Defining Medical Futility and Improving Medical Care” in the Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, medical futility is defined as the “unacceptable likelihood of achieving an effect that the patient has the capacity to appreciate as a benefit” (Schneiderman, 2011, p.123). Essentially,

I. Many people believe that being dead means that your heart and lungs have stopped beating, but many machines can keep those going. Once, the brain decides to stop there is no machine that can keep that going so, you become brain dead which results in death. II. Being brain death is typically done by some sort of devastating nerve injury. That can include but aren’t limited to traumatic brain injury, stroke or if the heart stops and the brain goes without oxygen and other nutrients it needs for a long period of time.

To begin with, the client whose name is Mr. Sam Pilsudski has an obstructed airway secondary to cancer of the larynx. He is a 67-year-old widower, and a father of one son and two daughters, who is unconscious and terminally ill, if not for a much-needed operation to remove both his cancer and larynx to save his life. However, one of Mr. Pilsudski’s daughters has adamantly refused to consent to the surgical procedure despite the physician explaining that although the operation would unfortunately render his patient disabled without a voice consequentially, but ultimately surviving the procedure to live and recover. Moreover, the physician attempted with rational and clear communication to express the gravity of the rather poor prognosis of his illness to his daughter that in the event of foregoing the surgery, his patient would surely die (Ralph Dolgoff, Donna Harrington, and Frank M. Loewenberg (2012), Ethical Decisions for Social Work Practice. 9th Ed; p. 279).

A 55-year-old man is brought into the clinic complaining of a terrible headache for the last 24 hours. He also reports feeling feverish for the last 2 days, and says he has recently been having trouble with his memory. His wife says she is very worried because he has “not been acting himself” lately. She states that he provides most of the income for the family, and is concerned about what would happen to them if he were no longer able to work. Fundoscopic exam shows papilledema. The appropriate pharmacologic therapy was given. A CT scan of the head is performed to confirm the diagnosis. Results show hemorrhagic necrosis of the temporal lobes.

In 1968, thirteen men of Harvard Medical School changed the definition of what it means to be dead. Before, a patient was considered dead when their heat no longer beat and their lungs could no longer function, now a person is considered dead when all brain function ends. This ‘death’ is determined through several tests including; no response to pain, no movement, and no breath. This study changed the way that the entire medical field worked. Some professionals disagree with the concept of brain death. Dr. Alan Shewmon states that if a person still has a functioning body, even when ‘brain dead’, then they should be considered alive. Patients who were declared brain dead are still able to grow, heal injuries, and even carry a fetus. Some critics

In this case study we have an eight year old boy who has a malignant tumor. The young man was treated at a city hospital, but the treatment failed him. The physician recommended that he under goes a surgical procedure, but his family is very religious and they believe in the power of prayer, they are also fearful of the procedure going wrong. The family then refuses the surgery. The surgeon stresses that the surgery is the best option for the little boy if they want him to live, so the hospital is thinking about going over the family’s head and getting a court order approved so they may do surgery and save the boy’s life.

As an administrator I would need to take into consideration the patient’s autonomy, autonomy is recognizing an individual’s right to make his/her own decisions about what is best for them regarding their health care (Pozgar, 2012). The patient’s rights always should be considered before any decisions are made by any other family members. In this scenario it is clear that the patient is unable to make any decisions, the patient has suffered a serious brain damage, and although it is not complete brain death, we must determine how to proceed.