Here they would plead their case for entry into the afterlife.
Hospital staff are aware of these difficulties and will try to ensure the issue is handled sensitively and thoughtfully.Throughout the underworld journey, the deceased’s spirit would have to contend with gods, strange creatures and gatekeepers to reach Osiris and the Hall of Final Judgment. In cases where a deceased person has not made their wishes clear, deciding whether to donate their organs can be a difficult decision for partners and relatives. These include drug overdoses (particularly from barbiturates) and severe hypothermia.Ī number of tests are carried out to check for brain death, such as shining a torch into both eyes to see if they react to the light.įind out more about diagnosing brain death Organ donationĪfter brain death, it may be possible for the person's organs to be used in transplants, which can often save the lives of others. Tests to confirm brain deathĪlthough rare, a few things can make it appear as though someone is brain dead. In rare cases, a person in a vegetative state may show some sense of response that can be detected using a brain scan, but not be able to interact with their surroundings. For example, they may open their eyes but not respond to their surroundings. Someone in a vegetative state is awake but shows no signs of awareness. there's a slim chance of recovery because the brain stem's core functions may be unaffected.Someone in a vegetative state still has a functioning brain stem, which means: The difference between brain death and a vegetative state (a disorder of consciousness), which can happen after extensive brain damage, is that it's possible to recover from a vegetative state, but brain death is permanent. a blood clot – a blockage in a blood vessel that disturbs or blocks the flow of blood around your bodyīrain death is different from a vegetative state.a stroke – when the blood supply to the brain is blocked or interrupted.
a heart attack – when the blood supply to the heart is suddenly blocked.cardiac arrest – when the heart stops beating and the brain is starved of oxygen.Causes of brain deathīrain death can happen when the blood or oxygen supply to the brain is stopped. The brain stem also relays information to and from the brain to the rest of the body, so it plays an important role in the brain's core functions, such as consciousness, awareness and movement.Īfter brain death, it is not possible for someone to remain conscious. The brain stem is responsible for regulating most of the body's automatic functions that are essential for life. The brain stem is the lower part of the brain that's connected to the spinal cord (part of the central nervous system in the spinal column). It can be confusing to be told someone has brain death, because their life support machine will keep their heart beating and their chest will still rise and fall with every breath from the ventilator.īut they will not ever regain consciousness or start breathing on their own again. If someone is brain dead, the damage is irreversible and, according to UK law, the person has died. They have no chance of recovery because their body is unable to survive without artificial life support. This means they will not regain consciousness or be able to breathe without support.Ī person who is brain dead is legally confirmed as dead. Brain death (also known as brain stem death) is when a person on an artificial life support machine no longer has any brain functions.
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