A multi-disciplinary approach to families of brain dead children
Powers, K.S.; Goldstein, B.; Merriam, C.; Chiafery, M.; Tornabene, L.; Paprocki, S.
Clinical Intensive Care International Journal of Critical and Coronary Care Medicine 5(4): 191-196
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0956-3075 PMID: 10150546 Document Number: 430847
To relate our multi-disciplinary approach to families of brain dead children. The professional experiences of critical care health care providers and the review of the medical and legal literature. Paediatric Intensive Care Unit. Paediatric critical care physicians, primary paediatricians, paediatric critical care nurses, social worker, hospital chaplain and organ procurement coordinator. We describe our multi-disciplinary approach towards education of families of children who have suffered severe brain injury likely to result in brain death. We feel this approach has resulted in better understanding and acceptance of brain death. We also discuss methods of addressing special circumstances around child abuse, religious exemption and organ procurement. Our multi-disciplinary approach may assist clinicians and other health care providers in successfully dealing with families of brain dead children.