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What Is Brain Death?
The term “brain death” confuses many people because it implies that a person who has died is actually alive. However, a person who is brain dead has no brain function, […]
The term “brain death” confuses many people because it implies that a person who has died is actually alive. However, a person who is brain dead has no brain function, and without brain function, the rest of the body cannot survive. They cannot breathe or maintain a heartbeat without the aid of a ventilator.
Brain death typically occurs after a severe head injury, bleeding in the brain, or an event that deprives the brain of oxygen, such as drowning or prolonged cardiac arrest. It can occur almost immediately, or it can happen over a period of hours or days as injured brain tissue swells.
In accordance with the Uniform Determination of Death Act, doctors determine brain death through a series of physical examinations and diagnostic tests. They check for spontaneous breathing, response to painful stimuli, and whether or not the pupils respond to light. They also perform an electroencephalogram, or EEG, and another test that shows if there is any blood circulating in the brain. If the EEG shows no activity, there is no blood flow to the brain, and the person can no longer breathe or move on their own, the person is declared dead. In most states, two doctors must certify the death.
After death has been determined, a potential organ donor will be kept in the ICU on a ventilator and receive specialized care to ensure organ function is maintained. At the same time, the Organ Procurement Organization in the region is notified and supplied with relevant details about the patient, such as age, sex, blood type, height and weight. When the OPO identifies a suitable recipient(s)[link to How are donors and recipients matched?] the patient is taken to the operating room and the organs to be donated are removed by a specially trained surgical team.
Sources
“What is the Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA)?” FindLaw. https://www.findlaw.com/healthcare/patient-rights/what-is-the-uniform-declaration-of-death-act-or-udda.html
“The diagnosis of brain death”. Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2772257/
