On video, teen put gun to his head and pulls trigger

[jmra]

"As of Wednesday night, the teen, whom police did not identify, was brain-dead and in extremely critical condition at Temple University Hospital."

So is it possible to be brain-dead and not in extremely critical condition?

[Keith B]

So is it possible to be brain-dead and not in extremely critical condition?

Yep, I work with several people that are in that state.

[Jumping Frog]

So is it possible to be brain-dead and not in extremely critical condition?

Look at any government bureaucracy.

[Oldgringo]

So is it possible to be brain-dead and not in extremely critical condition?

Yep, I work with several people that are in that state.

You beat me to it!

[WildBill]

My original thought about this post is that the one would already have to be "brain dead" to point a pistol at his own head and pull the trigger. I did not post this because I did not want to seem cruel and insensitive.

[Oldgringo]

My original thought about this post is that the one would already have to be "brain dead" to point a pistol at his own head and pull the trigger. I did not post this because I did not want to seem cruel and insensitive.

It's okay. Some of my best friends and relatives are cruel and insensitive.

[n5wd]

"As of Wednesday night, the teen, whom police did not identify, was brain-dead and in extremely critical condition at Temple University Hospital."

So is it possible to be brain-dead and not in extremely critical condition?

Yes, it is, in a matter of speaking. If "extremely critical condition" infers that there is a chance of pulling through in a relatively stable condition, then this person most likely is past that point. Now, it's usually a matter of a ventilator keeping the body oxygenated, with the able assistance of the heart, that resoundingly durable muscle that inherently wants to keep beating at a normal 70-90 beats per minute, and keeping the body's blood vessels contracted enough through vasopressors to maintain a viable blood pressure. This condition (the brain dead but heart still beating) is actually physiologically pretty stable, and could be maintained for a while, since a young person like this is a prime candidate for harvesting of organs, especially the heart (if it never stopped during the trauma), lungs, liver, etc. etc.

The docs usually give a patient all the chances in the world, but when there's no blood being circulated through the brain (not sure if they use a PET scanner, CAT scanner, or MRI to show that, but there is a scan that'll show that), with no reflexes of any kind being evidenced, over a period of time, it's time to call the organ procurement coordinator.