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Organ transplants continue to redefine medical frontiers. Unfortunately, current demand for organs far surpasses availability, waiting lists are long and many people die before the organ they desperately need becomes available. One proposed way to increase organ availability is to admit patients to the ICU with severe neurological injuries, for a trial of therapy. If the injury is irretrievable, discussions would then focus on extending ventilation for potential brain death/organ donation if a prior wish to donate is known or if the substitute decision maker consents. The following debate discusses the ethical dilemmas of waiting for brain death.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Crit Care

Publication Date

10/2002

Volume

6

Pages

399 - 402

Keywords

Death and Euthanasia, Health Care and Public Health, Adolescent, Adult, Brain Death, Brain Injuries, Decision Making, Humans, Intensive Care Units, Male, Prognosis, Respiration, Artificial, Resuscitation, Severity of Illness Index, Tissue and Organ Procurement, Withholding Treatment