Question

Discussion - Brain Death: Ethical Considerations

Your patient is a 23-year-old female with a history of headaches. This morning she was experiencing a really bad headache as her boyfriend was driving her to the university. He thought she was sleeping and by the time they got to the school, 45 minutes later, she was not waking up. She was diagnosed with a cerebral aneurysm and you are taking care of her in the Neurological ICU.

• What testing do you expect to be performed to diagnose brain death?
• What is the procedure when a patient is determined to be brain dead?
• Who should approach the family about organ donation?

The family is approached about organ donation. The patient indicated on her driver's license that she wanted to be an organ donor. Her mother refuses to consent for organ donation.

• Do you think donation should happen anyway? Why or why not?
• What will be the ethical consequences of your decision?

references and in-text citation

Answer 1

Brain death is confirmed by Angiography.It is confirmed by demonstrating the absence of intracerebral filing at circle of willis.

An MRI can diagnose the damage in brain steam tissue in depth.This can monitor brain activity too.

Clinical brain death evidence includes coma, unresponsiveness medical conditions and even optional confirmatory like EEG.

To convince patients family Apnea test also can be performed.

Her mother must be convinced first.After.her confirmation only organ donation can be done or else it will be a problem because some close relative has to give the consent though driving license indicates organ donation.

If feel.organ donation should happen as patient herself wishes for that and ultimately it's her decision which should happen.

Acceptance does not occur just with time but with the recognition that patient is not going to recover from the injury.

Continuing artificial life support for patients who are brain dead may harm patients family and others involved.Hospital must take at most vare before removing the ventilator support without patients acceptance.in these cases risk management team must be involved in earlier decision as well so that they are aware of the situation and have no harm for the hospital authorities.