4 facts you may not
know about "brain death"
know about "brain death"
1.
The use of neurological criteria to declare “brain death” was motivated
by the desire to harvest the beating heart and other vital organs for
transplantation, and to remove life support from patients to keep from
overcrowding intensive care units of hospitals.1
2. Surveys show a wide variation in “brain death” criteria among leading neurological institutions in the United States. This means a person could be considered “brain dead” in one institution and not in another.2
3. Patients, such as Madeleine Gauron, have been pronounced “brain dead” with no hope of recovery, but later recovered consciousness and are still living among us.3
4. The apnea test is the most important step in determining “brain death.” An apnea test is the removal of the patient’s ventilator to determine if the patient is capable of taking in a breath on their own. In these situations, the ventilator can be turned off for up to 10 minutes. This test significantly impairs the possibility of recovery and can lead to the death of the patient through a heart attack.4
2. Surveys show a wide variation in “brain death” criteria among leading neurological institutions in the United States. This means a person could be considered “brain dead” in one institution and not in another.2
3. Patients, such as Madeleine Gauron, have been pronounced “brain dead” with no hope of recovery, but later recovered consciousness and are still living among us.3
4. The apnea test is the most important step in determining “brain death.” An apnea test is the removal of the patient’s ventilator to determine if the patient is capable of taking in a breath on their own. In these situations, the ventilator can be turned off for up to 10 minutes. This test significantly impairs the possibility of recovery and can lead to the death of the patient through a heart attack.4
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