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Brain stem death is a legal and medical definition of death. It is the irreversible loss of all function in the brain stem. The brain stem is the part of the brain that controls your most basic life functions, such as breathing, heart rate, and consciousness. When the brain stem stops working, the person cannot breathe on their own and will never wake up.
read more about brain stem death ...Brain stem death is caused by a severe and permanent injury to the brain. This can happen after a major head injury, a stroke, a brain bleed, or a heart attack that stops oxygen from getting to the brain for a long time. The damage causes the brain to swell, which cuts off its own blood supply and causes it to stop working for good.
This is a very important difference. A person in a coma or a vegetative state still has a working brain stem. They can breathe on their own, and there is a possibility they could one day recover. A person with brain stem death is legally and medically dead. Their body is only being kept warm and their heart is only beating because a machine, called a ventilator, is pushing oxygen into their lungs.
This diagnosis is never made by just one doctor. It is a very careful and specific process. A team of senior doctors, who are experts in this area, must perform a series of tests. These tests confirm that the person is unconscious and cannot breathe on their own. They also check for any brain stem reflexes, like the pupils responding to light or the eyes blinking. All of these tests must show zero brain stem function.
The diagnosis of brain stem death is important because it is the point at which a person is legally declared dead. This is true even though a machine is still keeping their heart beating. This diagnosis is the moment when doctors and families must talk about stopping the ventilator machine. It is also the point when organ donation can be considered.
Can a person recover from brain stem death?
No. Brain stem death is permanent and irreversible. Once the brain stem has stopped working, it cannot be fixed. The person is dead.
Is the person "brain dead" or just dead?
They are dead. "Brain stem death" is the medical term used to confirm that death has occurred. The person's heart is only beating because a machine is doing the work of breathing for them.
How long can a body be kept on a ventilator after brain stem death?
A ventilator can keep the heart and organs supplied with oxygen for a period of time, usually a few days. However, the body will begin to shut down because it no longer has a working brain to control its functions.
This diagnosis is made in a hospital, usually in an intensive care unit. It is a very difficult and sad time for a family. The medical team will perform the tests and, when they are complete, they will talk to the family. They will explain what has happened and that their loved one has died. They will then discuss the next steps, including stopping the ventilator.