Do you trust the organ donation process (after recovery of 'brain dead' boy)?

Meeshie · May 10, 2018

I read another article on this. It was pretty specific in that it said that the child had not yet been declared brain dead and that the final test would be done the next day prior to removal of life support. So.... not brain dead.. not a miracle.. just science.

Guest219794 · May 10, 2018

Jahi McMath?
Granted, it totally depends on what you mean by "recovered" but she certainly is no longer brain dead (see the huge Atlantic article that was published a few months ago).

"certainly is no longer brain dead "

I could not find the Atlantic Article on line. I found some others that mentioned that a judge had ruled that she technically might not meet the legal definition of brain death.

But, lasrt month, JAMA published an article by a Harvard bio ethicist referring to her as brain dead.

Given the source of the differing opinions, I think it is a bit strong to say she "certainly is no longer brain dead ".

Maybe the Atlantic article you cited has more info.

dream'n, BSN, RN · May 11, 2018

There's no need to try to make it appear selfish, it is selfish by every dictionary definition., but that's completely fine as it's your decision to make. You made a decision, your family made a decision, and you all talked about it and know what each other's wishes are. There's nothing wrong with that.
It is wrong that people try to make you feel guilty about it. .

I respectfully agree to disagree. I don't want to argue or further explain myself, but my decision is not selfish. Let's drop it and move on

/username, BSN, RN · May 11, 2018

I respectfully agree to disagree. I don't want to argue or further explain myself but my decision is not selfish. Let's drop it and move on[/quote']
You're placing a negative connotation on the word selfish.
You made this decision while thinking about yourself, and what you want, right?
You made this decision based on your wishes, and not thinking about how that decision would impact others, right?
By definition, this is selfish, but like I said before, there's nothing wrong with making selfish decisions. I would venture to guess that over 90% of the decisions we make on a daily basis are selfish, as we live our lives for ourselves, not for others.
I'll reiterate what I said before. You did make a selfish decision. That decision was the right one for you and your family. Frankly, nobody cares why you made it, as evidenced by a whopping total of zero people asking you why you made it, so you are also not being forced to explain yourself. Nobody is asking.....
What is wrong is that people are making you feel guilty about that decision. Calling it a selfish decision, which it is, should not make you feel guilty, as it was, by definition, a selfish decision. You're the one who's placing that negative connotation there.
When you go to a restaurant or coffee shop, you order what you want.... Do you give a **** what the person ahead of you or behind you wants? No, because then you'd be a ******* weirdo... Your order is, by definition, a selfish decision. Would you place a negative connotation to your individualized drink order at starbucks? no, because no rational human being would do that.
It's the same thing with your decision to not be a donor. You don't give a flying **** if others want to be donors, or about the welfare of potential recipients that you don't know. Why is that a bad thing?

HalfBoiled, BSN, RN · May 11, 2018

If a part of my child get's to live on and help someone.

I would live my life at ease knowing my son/daughter made a difference in someone's life.

Amethya · May 11, 2018

I was never an organ donor because my mother had this idea that once you are in the database, you will hunted down for your organs. But one day I was watching a show and the characters were stuck in a cave for days. They were dying and before they died they decided to put themselves as organ donors as one last chance to help someone.

It may sound stupid, but it moved me and since then I been a registered organ donor.

I even told my parents that if I am on life support, to keep me on for at least a few weeks, but if they say there's no chance I can come back after testing, to cut me off. I rather die than be tied up in machines, and/or not be myself if I do come back.

I just hope my organs can help someone in need.

DavidCorbin · May 11, 2018

I hope all will be fine! God take care about good people.

BSN16 · May 11, 2018

As a previous Neuro/trauma ICU RN and now a Transplant ICU nurse, i trust it 1000000%

BedsideNurse · May 11, 2018

I've always checked the donor box on my drivers license and told my loved ones that's what I wanted. However, regardless of what happened in the news story, after being inundated with donor patients since the opioid crisis, I've come to the conclusion that I want no part in that tedious, decidedly unpleasant process. It's selfish, I know, but I just...I don't know... And, honestly, looking at the vast majority of people who are donating these days, I wouldn't want their organs in me. No thanks on either end.

anon456, BSN, RN · May 11, 2018

I am a hospice/palliative care nurse. Any time a patient or their representative wishes to withdraw medical support, they are free to do so. We sometimes get patients who have been on vents long-term who decided they don't want that anymore, even if the vent is keeping them alive. They or their family signs papers, the patient is made comfortable, and the vent is removed. The body is allowed to have natural death with no more medical interventions.

If there is no hope of a meaningful life after an acute illness or accident, the patient or rep may choose to stop feedings, IV fluids, meds, vent, etc. at any time and allow natural death to happen. Usually they are signed over to hospice care at that time.

The boy didn't need to be brain dead for his family to decide to turn off the machines or withdraw care.

In the case of my father, we wanted to make absolutely sure there was no hope of recovery before agreeing to donate his organs and then turn off the support. He was found to be brain dead with two separate trials several hours apart.

I was able to meet one of his organ recipients and it was a wonderful experience. No regrets and I never questioned the process.

**LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM** · May 12, 2018

I'm an organ donor without qualms, however I'm also an educated white woman who respects the fact that other cultures may have totally different, valid objections to the process based on a history of mistreatment towards them. The "brain dead" aspect of the boy's case the OP references seems to be a moot point---he wasn't actually declared brain dead.

Regarding Jahi McMath, I hadn't heard any recent updates about her case, and this thread got me curious. I came across a really great article from the New Yorker from this past February---possibly what someone referred to as a recent notable article in the Atlantic? Anyway, it talks about her case in detail, and I learned a lot about her and her family. It also discusses a lot of what we're discussing here---how different cultures react to end-of-life issues with loved ones in totally different ways, what "brain death" really means and who defines it, guilt, delusion, and the treatment of non-whites by medical providers. It was a great read, and this thread has been thought-provoking.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/02/05/what-does-it-mean-to-die

JadedCPN, BSN, RN · May 12, 2018

Much like many other aspects of healthcare, I understand that this industry could verywell have some "bad apples" who take advantage of the system and do very unethical things - that is always a possibility in any scenario. However I believe the potential good, literal life-saving good that comes from organ donation outweighs the possibility that there may be some corruption so I will continue to be an organ donor.