Brain Dead

For some, letting go of a love one declared brain dead can be extremely difficult, especially if there are reflexes believed to be responses to familiar voice prompting family members to decide against the removal of mechanical ventilator probably hoping that the patient will regain full consciousness. Unlike patients who are in a persistent vegetative state and may recover but with some limitations, brain death patients have no potential hope of reversible functions (Wijdicks, Varelas, Gronseth, & Greer, 2010), of the entire body. The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) provides the following criteria indicating when an individual should be declared brain dead and in a persistent vegetative state. An individual is considered brain dead when criteria such as; “irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem: coma (with a known cause), absence of brainstem reflexes, and apnea” (Wijdicks et al., 2010), are met. Whereas, a person can be classified as being in a persistent vegetative state when: “A. Acute traumatic and nontraumatic brain injury…, B. degenerative and metabolic disorder of the brain…, and “C. Severe developmental malfunctions of the nervous system”(American Academy of Neurology, 1995), affect the patient’s ability to function.
I think coma with unknown cause should be part of the brain death criteria because a person can be pronounced dead by the medical doctor or coroner even …show more content…
Assessment and Management of Patients in the Persistent Vegetative State. (1995). Report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Retrieved June 25, 2015. From: https://www.aan.com/Guidelines/Home/GetGuidelinecontent/83
Wijdicks, E. F. M., Varelas, P. N., Gronseth, G. S., & Greer, D. M. (2010). Evidence-based guideline update: Determining brain death in adults. Retrieved June 25, 2015. From: