Posted on 01/01/2014 8:51:34 AM PST by Drew68
The last hope for Jahi McMath to be kept on a ventilator may come from a former Long Island hairdresser who runs a brain-injury treatment center dedicated to Terri Schiavo, the Florida woman whose case sparked a fierce nationwide end-of-life debate.
(Excerpt) Read more at contracostatimes.com ...
This neurosurgeon, Dr. Ebel Alexander, went on to write a best selling book about his near-death experience.
The problem though is that he was never clinically declared brain dead. Parts of his brain shut down following a meningitis-induced coma. He was in a coma but his brain was still receiving oxygen. Jehi McMath's brain is not receiving oxygen and is by now most likely highly decomposed.
There have been several people in other countries who revived after being declared brain dead. It is argued that in these countries, where the laws governing organ donations are far more proactive, the criteria for establishing brain death is different from those in the United States.
Of course, doctors are human and make human mistakes and there are cases of people returning after being erroneously declared brain dead. They survived only because they weren't really brain dead in the first place.
It's reasonable to say that after three weeks of no brain activity whatsoever, this is not the case with Jahi McMath.
And for how long should the hospital keep Jahi hooked up, at a rough cost of $10,000/day, to a machine that could otherwise be used to save someone else's life?
If you know that Jahi was eating a popsicle and sitting up laughing with her family, etc., then why didn’t a nurse?
Disconnecting life support is one thing. Forcing the girl to stay in that hospital violates the parents' rights. Wasn't that actually what the issue came down to in the Terry Schiavo outrage?
You paying for that permanent state of brain-dead existence?
I didn’t think so. Let her go home.
Why you think abortion is involved is ridiculous. Grow-up
IIRC, Terry was not on a ventilator.
They're not trying to take the girl home. They want her admitted to a long-term care facility. Until now they haven't been able to find one. They are also being asked to by hospital to provide, in writing, a plan for the continued care of Jehi. They have not done so. Perhaps now they can. Also at issue is the insertion of a feeding tube. Doctors at her current hospital will not perform surgery on a dead person, as Jehi has been legally declared.
In Schiavo's case, her husband was her primary next of kin and legally allowed to make medical decisions on her behalf. He made the argument that Terri would not have wanted to continue living in her condition and that prolonged life support should end. He was challenged by her family in a very acrimonious and public battle but he ultimately prevailed in the courts.
Really? The news report I saw said the pediatrician said that she was not brain dead. If he hasn't examined her, what is he basing his opinion on? While I'm sure there are ways to video conference the patient and look at the records yet the report made it sound like he examined her at the hospital.
I feel bad for the family, the Doctors tell you the surgery is no big deal and then she ends up possibly brain dead? People need to know that any surgery is dangerous and there is an element of risk and it sounds like this was voluntary surgery, not a life threatening problem.
“Is the hospital wanting her organs?”
Maybe, but the black-robed serial murderers in Pinellas County, Florida, are finding it harder and harder to resist the urge to strike again.
A tonsillectomy to relieve sleep apnea?
Her chest only rises and falls because a ventilator is pumping air into it. Taken off the ventilator she might go on breathing a little longer or stop right away. But as a health care professional, I feel being kept on life support after all meaningful brain function has stopped is a terrible situation, not one I would choose for my family.. Its not fair to the family, the folks taking care of her or those of us paying for it.
Torture a corpse?
You don’t make any sense.
What was your opinion on Terry Schiavo?
Dr. Paul A. Byrne is, um, an interesting fellow. I'll leave it at that.
Movement does not mean purposeful movement. There are a multitude of reflexes that can cause movement with no brain involvement.
In my mind, the issue is that the government is not the parent, and the parent gets to choose. I could see the hospital refusing medical care or the insurance company refusing to cover something, but that isn't the right to keep the child incarcerated.
This case stinks. The girl ended up in this state after tonsil surgery. How do I know the hospital and insurance company aren't protecting their financial interests?
Why you think abortion is involved is ridiculous. Grow-up
What a childish response.
Why conflate this with Terry Schiavo? McMath is brain dead.
Alright, I’ll entertain.
Explain where abortion is an issue here?
Again, the parents aren't fighting to take her home. They're fighting for her to continue receiving hospital care.
Nice evasion.
Dead people can’t be tortured, your powers of analysis and understanding have no credibility.
Why so strident?
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