Judge rules brain-dead California teen can be taken off life support
- 9 years ago
Originally published on December 27, 2013
The family of Jahi McMath, a 13-year-old North California girl declared brain dead after suffering complications following a tonsillectomy lost their bid to extend a court order that would have allowed her to remain on life support at least until December 30.
The family said they had not yet decided whether to dispute the medical findings or appeal the judge's decision.
According to Reuters, Jahi was admitted to the Children's Hospital and Resource Center in Oakland on December 9 for surgery to remove her tonsils. She was declared brain dead three days later following complications from the operation. The surgery was aimed to treat Jahi's sleep apnea, but she began bleeding extensively after the surgery, which then led to a heart attack and brain swelling.
Brain death occurs when brain stem function is permanently lost. The brain stem is the lower part of the brain that is connected to the spinal cord. It is responsible for regulating the most essential functions of the body including breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure and swallowing. Brain death can be caused when blood and oxygen supply to the brain is stopped as a result of heart attack.
The important difference between brain death and a severe vegetative state is that a patient in a vegetative state still has a functioning brain stem, which allows them to show some form of consciousness. For example, a patient in a severe vegetative state may open their eyes as signs of wakefulness, though have no response to their surroundings and can still breathe unaided.
Brain death can only be confirmed after conducting a series of tests, including tests to determine whether or not the patient's pupils are reactive to bright light, whether there is corneal reflex or spontaneous eye movement. Ice-cold water is inserted into each ear to further stimulate eye movements. The trachea is stimulated to see if it provokes gagging or coughing. The ventilator is withdrawn from the pa
The family of Jahi McMath, a 13-year-old North California girl declared brain dead after suffering complications following a tonsillectomy lost their bid to extend a court order that would have allowed her to remain on life support at least until December 30.
The family said they had not yet decided whether to dispute the medical findings or appeal the judge's decision.
According to Reuters, Jahi was admitted to the Children's Hospital and Resource Center in Oakland on December 9 for surgery to remove her tonsils. She was declared brain dead three days later following complications from the operation. The surgery was aimed to treat Jahi's sleep apnea, but she began bleeding extensively after the surgery, which then led to a heart attack and brain swelling.
Brain death occurs when brain stem function is permanently lost. The brain stem is the lower part of the brain that is connected to the spinal cord. It is responsible for regulating the most essential functions of the body including breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure and swallowing. Brain death can be caused when blood and oxygen supply to the brain is stopped as a result of heart attack.
The important difference between brain death and a severe vegetative state is that a patient in a vegetative state still has a functioning brain stem, which allows them to show some form of consciousness. For example, a patient in a severe vegetative state may open their eyes as signs of wakefulness, though have no response to their surroundings and can still breathe unaided.
Brain death can only be confirmed after conducting a series of tests, including tests to determine whether or not the patient's pupils are reactive to bright light, whether there is corneal reflex or spontaneous eye movement. Ice-cold water is inserted into each ear to further stimulate eye movements. The trachea is stimulated to see if it provokes gagging or coughing. The ventilator is withdrawn from the pa