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The Meaning of Brain Death

The Meaning of Brain Death Opinion VIEWPOINT A Different View The recent case of Jahi McMath, a teenager in Oak- Many individuals with a diagnosis of brain death can Robert D. Truog, MD Division of Critical Care land, California, was extensively publicized in the news maintain integrated functioning for prolonged periods, Medicine, Boston media and led to prominent commentaries in medical even years. These functions may include circulation, di- Children’s Hospital, 1,2 journals on the meaning of brain death. McMath is a gestion, excretion of waste products, temperature con- Boston, Massachusetts, 14-year-old adolescent who in December 2013 experi- trol, wound healing, fighting infections, growth and de- and Division of Medical Ethics, Harvard Medical enced devastating neurological damage following com- velopment, and gestating a fetus. We now know that School, Boston, plications from a tonsillectomy. McMath met criteria for the integrated functioning of the organism as a whole Massachusetts. the diagnosis of brain death. She continues, however, to is an emergent property of living organisms and is not receive mechanical ventilation, tube feedings, and sup- dependent on a central organizer such as the brain. The Franklin G. Miller, PhD portive care at an undisclosed location, with her treat- fact that those with a diagnosis of http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png JAMA Internal Medicine American Medical Association

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References (6)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright 2014 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/DFARS Restrictions Apply to Government Use.
ISSN
2168-6106
eISSN
2168-6114
DOI
10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.2272
pmid
24911444
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Opinion VIEWPOINT A Different View The recent case of Jahi McMath, a teenager in Oak- Many individuals with a diagnosis of brain death can Robert D. Truog, MD Division of Critical Care land, California, was extensively publicized in the news maintain integrated functioning for prolonged periods, Medicine, Boston media and led to prominent commentaries in medical even years. These functions may include circulation, di- Children’s Hospital, 1,2 journals on the meaning of brain death. McMath is a gestion, excretion of waste products, temperature con- Boston, Massachusetts, 14-year-old adolescent who in December 2013 experi- trol, wound healing, fighting infections, growth and de- and Division of Medical Ethics, Harvard Medical enced devastating neurological damage following com- velopment, and gestating a fetus. We now know that School, Boston, plications from a tonsillectomy. McMath met criteria for the integrated functioning of the organism as a whole Massachusetts. the diagnosis of brain death. She continues, however, to is an emergent property of living organisms and is not receive mechanical ventilation, tube feedings, and sup- dependent on a central organizer such as the brain. The Franklin G. Miller, PhD portive care at an undisclosed location, with her treat- fact that those with a diagnosis of

Journal

JAMA Internal MedicineAmerican Medical Association

Published: Aug 1, 2014

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