New study questions “brain-death” criterion for organ donation

LifeSiteNews ^ | 9/15/06 | Peter J. Smith

[wagglebee]

The recent case-study significantly bolsters the argument of opponents of the “brain-death” criterion for organ donation, who fear that severely brain-injured patients are seen more and more as living organ farms than as persons needing care and attention.

Unfortunately, the Culture of Death DOES see all of us as organ farms.

[wagglebee]

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[wagglebee]

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[mtbopfuyn]

There's some truth in that research. Judge Greer has been brain dead for years, yet is still making mindboggling rulings.

[ozoneliar]

At one point I had doubts that clones could ever be used as organ farms, but now who knows. If cloning is ever viable who knows how it will be used?

[narses]

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[GhostSoldier]

Where was this info when Terri Schiavo needed it?

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Huge error in the first paragraph, trying to conflate a vegetative state with brain death. Those are different things. Brain death means there is no brain activity. In a vegetative state there is brain activity -- even wakefulness -- but no apparent awareness of one's surroundings.

No doctor would declare a person in a vegetative state to be "brain dead."

[machogirl]

the brain-death squad already was on watch before my dad was transferred from another hospital and then at this "world renowned" hospital, they refused to show me the cat scans that would have "proven" to me that there was "complete" brain death.

[ahayes]

What does this have to do with brain death? Brain death involves zip, zero, and nada brain activity. With those in a vegetative state some brain activity remains. From this page:

PVS should be distinguished from from three related neurologic conditions: brain death, the "locked-in" syndrome, and coma. With brain death (sometimes called whole brain death) the entire brain including the brainstem is irreversibly and completely destroyed. If brain death precedes injury to the rest of the body, all other organ systems fail within days. It is not possible to keep the body alive indefinitely with machines in cases of brain death.{16} Harvard Medical School criteria for diagnosing brain death include unresponsiveness, absence of spontaneous respiration, and loss of brainstem reflex activity.{17} In 1981 the President's Commission report proposed an updated version of the Harvard criteria.{18} While there have been some criticisms of these, the modified Harvard criteria are the ones most widely accepted for determining brain death.{19}

An EEG can easily tell if a person is brain-dead or not, and an EEG can easily tell if a person is in a true permanently unconscious vegetative state or a state more similar to the "locked-in" state (where the patient is conscious but unable to move or speak). Fortunately EEGs are relatively cheap and readily available.

[ahayes]

Beat me by two minutes. Shouldn't have spent so long searching for an explanation of this. ;-)

[RightWhale]

the ethical determination of “brain-death”,

It's a legal determination of the state.

[machogirl]

they are doing that now with "non-brain dead" donations, those with still limited brain function, that can't breath on their own.

quote from this local group "when meaningful, brain activity has ceased" what is meaningful? terry schiavo wasn't

also donation after cardiac death, "hurry as soon as their heart stops, let their brain die, resuscitate and harvest"

Donation After Cardiac Death DCD their heart has stopped, they're dead

if anyone doesn't want to take my word, and I would look it up myself anyway, check out the new criteria that they are asking for, the above plus they want only to have one person determine brain death, it is such a money driven industry that along the way helps people, but is IMMUNE to LIABILITY,
REGULATION, AND MORALITY

[wagglebee]

So are you supportive of the forced death of people with PVS?

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Maybe that is happening in some places. However, I do medical transcription for an intensive care unit and it is not happening where I work.

In any case, the author is still incorrect when he conflates brain death with vegetative state.

[ahayes]

Hah, I've tangled with your group, but not today! It's a surreal experience. As the article posted indicates, truth is trodden underfoot. I won't put up with having my every word twisted and maligned and having the most outrageous insults said to my face today.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

So are you supportive of the forced death of people with PVS?

Absolutely not. My whole point was PVS is not brain death. Therefore, this study should have no impact on organ procurement decisions.

There are times where withdrawal of care of a person in PVS would be appropriate -- but that would be based on a living will or family input with regard to what the patient wanted. Not because the doctor thinks it's time for the patient to die.

[wagglebee]

There are times where withdrawal of care of a person in PVS would be appropriate -- but that would be based on a living will or family input with regard to what the patient wanted. Not because the doctor thinks it's time for the patient to die.

And it's certainly not a judge's decision.

[Outland]

I think the criteria for brain death is simple... liberals, socialists, greens, progressives, communists and Islamofascists. There should be plenty of spare organs to go around.

[grey_whiskers]

Umm, I've got a brainstorm here.

Why don't we start asking the pro-aborts, Feminazi's, and similar fellow travellers about this?

You know, the "keep your laws off my body" crowd.

Game, set, and match.

Cheers!