Coma, PVS, Brain Death

Transcript 7 - January 6, 2014

Topic: Coma, PVS, & Brain Death

Sneak Preview: topics for upcoming chat

T1: Child in coma for 1wk; parents hav 5 kids, cant cover hospital bill. Doc says might awake w some damage. Can parents pull plug? #bioethx

T2: Rural area- pt in PVS 8yrs. All machines in use. New young pt w good prognosis needs temporary life support. Remove from PVS pt? #bioethx

T3: In US, PVS pt can refuse med interventions. Feeding tube 4 nutrition/hydration med tech or basic life requirement? Refusable? #bioethx

T4: Pt declard brain dead. If is ‘true death’ can family still request ctd ‘life support?’ Can hospital refuse? What if pt pregnant? #bioethx

For more info on this subject, check out:

When 'Life Support' is Really 'Death Support'