Jahi McMath (13) died for real five years after she was declared brain dead following surgery complications

[morbidT]

When Roomies nephew (3yo) was shot he was basically gone from the time of the shooting, but alive enough that they put him on a ventilator, mainly to preserve his organs I think. But it made it much tougher for the parents to accept that he was gone. But the doctors were able to convey the brain dead is forever message to them. I'd think a family that includes a nurse would be able to understand that, if not accept it.

If he was alive I really feel they placed him on the ventilator to try to save his life. When it comes to kids, health care professionals are diligent. Not that they aren't with non kids, but no one wants to see a child die. Also, they probably vented him in order to be able to perform neurological function to determine what the prognosis was going to be. I'm sure the last thing on their minds was preserving his organs for donation. They may have had thoughts of if the kid didn't make it he could possibly be an organ donor, but I bet they worked their arses off trying to save him.

Personally, I prefer to intubate everyone who crashes in the field so when they are brought into the ER they can get placed on the vent and not pronounced DOA. 1) It gives the ER the opportunity to fight for that persons life, 2) It provides the opportunity to check neurological function (the person was without oxygen for X amount of minutes and will show if there is any brain activity what so ever), 3) Organ preservation if, in deed, there is no neurological function.

I really do think one of the biggest problems when families fight like this is because brain death has not been explained appropriately. Of course, there are some people who will just not get it no matter what you say, do, or show them.

You would think a nurse would understand it, but you would also be surprised how many health care professionals don't know what brain death means. They think it's Teri Schiavo.

Yeah. Letting them down easy is a horrible thing to do. "I'm sorry. She's gone" would be so much kinder in the long run.

Yep. Sometimes "being nice" kicks them in the butt. Then again, I think the short and sweet is the nice thing to do in the long run. It's like a double edged sword in a way.

I just reread the article and the family's story makes absolutely no sense. The surgery was completed, she was alert enough to speak to the family, then she crashed out of nowhere?

It happens. There are complications with any and every kind of procedure. There are a couple of threads on here about people who died having their wisdom teeth removed. One of my mom's friends died during routine gall bladder surgery. They are all low risk, but it does happen.