Sep 08, 2017 the family of jahi mcmath will finally be able to present to a jury their case that the comatose girl is alive three years after she was declared dead by doctors at childrens hospital in. After the surgery she began bleeding profusely, went into cardiac arrest and suffered brain death a hundred press accounts have described the procedure mcmath underwent as a routine tonsillectomy. A federal court order then prohibited childrens hospital oakland, where mcmath had the procedure, from removing lifesustaining systems. Jan 09, 2014 with all due respect, you are completely ignorant of the facts in this case as revealed right in your first paragraph. A young girl from oakland california fighting for her life, after undergoing surgery to have her tonsils removed at childrens hospital oakland. The family of jahi mcmath, the teen who was declared braindead after a tonsillectomy more than three years ago but who they insist is still alive, has finally gotten a step closer to having the. Nailah winkfield, mother of jahi mcmath, who has been declared brain dead after a routine tonsillectomy, talks to media with her husband martin winkfield, in front of childrens hospital in. Mcmath, was declared brain dead on december 12, three days following tonsil surgery. Her parents considered these measures to constitute life support. The mother of jahi mcmath, who three months ago was declared medically brain dead, said thursday that her child has shown signs of life.
According to the root, after her surgeries, jahi mcmath suffered from massive bloodloss that led to cardiac arrest. Sebastian sepulveda, opinion contributor 070119 02. Jahi mcmath brain dead ruling in court after moving on. Jahi mcmath hearing postponed after doctors determination.
For analysis of these materials please see my published articles or blog posts. When jahi mcmath was declared braindead by the hospital, her family. Smith says doctors should evaluate fresh evidence the teenager might have restored brain function. Apr 06, 2017 nakagawa also goes over jahi s brain flow scan on december 23, 20 page 33 which showed a complete absence of blood flow to the brain, which dr. Family of jahi mcmath, a teen who died of surgical. Thus seems to be the conviction of the family of jahi mcmath. After the surgery she began bleeding profusely, went into cardiac arrest and suffered brain death. Jahi mcmath was issued a death certificate two years ago. The tragic case of a yearold oakland, california, child jahi mcmath who was declared dead on december 12, 20, following complications of a tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and redundant sinus tissue removal, recently pitted family members, lawyers, and the hospital against each other as they struggled to resolve continuing support. Jahi mcmaths case is far more nuanced than what appears on the. Mother of jahi mcmath posts new photos declaring her brain. Someone has stated they know someone who took care of jahis body in december of 2014. The organ transplant team was set to remove zacks organs, but his cousin who was a nurse stepped in and saved him from being dissected alive.
Answered as of october 2016 strangely enough, jahi mcmaths body is doing very well. Jahi mcmath jahi mcmath case this article, as written, isnt a biography of jahi mcmath but an account of the events leading up to and following her being declared brain dead, so jahi mcmath case would be a more accurate title. The family of jahi mcmath will finally be able to present to a jury their case that the comatose girl is alive three years after she was declared dead by doctors at childrens hospital in. After the development of positivepressure ventilators, a patients respiration and circulation could be sustained long after the termination of all brain activity. Oakland hospital, coroner return jahi mcmath to family the. Mar 21, 2016 in december of 20, yearold jahi mcmath was declared brain dead by doctors after going into cardiac arrest after what family members called a routine tonsillectomy to help jahi with her sleep apnea.
The recent and unfolding tragedy of jahi mcmath, the yearold girl who died. Jan 08, 2014 i understand that shes brain dead and that as such her lungs would not work and her heart would not beat without the ventilator, but i dont quite understand why her body is decomposing. I assume there have been similar instances where the brain dead patient was actually still alive and had their organs. The short short version of the story is that a yearold girl in california underwent a rather extensive threepart surgery for sleep apnoea and suffered cardiac arrest. Generally, a braindead persons heart will stop in a few days or weeks, but there have been patients whose hearts have continued to beat for much longer following the diagnosis of brain death. Doctors declared jahi mcmath officially dead after a sleep apnea surgery went awry in 20. Recently, i visited jahi and her family in her home in new jersey. Since taking on the case of jahi mcmath, an oakland, calif. Family of jahi mcmath, the teen declared braindead.
The plaintiffs counsel has agreed that jahi mcmath fulfilled the neurologic criteria for brain death when she was declared brain dead and deceased in december 20, said the statement. As healthy and beautiful as ever by amy graff, sfgate updated 10. The person working there said the windows were always open due to the strong smell, there were no pest strips everywhere, bug traps everywhere roach motels and some of the fake nails had come off and some were moldy. Pdf jahi mcmath and the ethics of the brain death standard. Petition update former jahi caregiver tells the truth about. This book takes you on a tour of the inner workings of a childs body as it. Nation vatican world commentary blogs features movies books travel. Jahi mcmaths family hopes for miracle after judge rules. Although i have no more details about this case than anyone else reading the news, i am quite familiar with the sort of things that happened to this unfortunate child. A video recording of an ice cube touched to the foot of jahi mcmath has been distributed. The jahi mcmath case involved a teenage girl who was declared brain dead in california following surgery in 20 at age. A photo of jahi mcmath is shown at funeral services for mcmath at acts full. Jahi mcmath, the teenager who was at the center of a medical and religious debate over brain death, has died, according to her familys lawyer. While there have been extensions granted by judges, the hospital, the medical establishment, the state of california, and the bioethics establishment have ganged up to.
The person working there said the windows were always open due to the strong smell, there were no pest strips everywhere, bug traps everywhere roach motels and some of the fake nails had come off and some. Jan 21, 2014 the recent and unfolding tragedy of jahi mcmath, the yearold girl who died following complications of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, has focused many people on the question of brain death. Apr 18, 2018 mcmaths family has said declaring jahi dead by by brain death goes against their religious beliefs. May 15, 2020 jahi mcmath is a 14yearold girl who was when a death certificate was issued for her by the coroner in oakland, california. Brain tissue cannot survive more than a few minutes without blood, and this was days after her anoxic event and cardiac arrest. Doesnt decomposition occur as a result of cell death and breakdown.
On brain death and the jahi mcmath story christopher. Someone, perhaps jahi s mother, says, i dont understand how a brain dead can. Having initially fulfilled all the standard criteria for diagnosis of brain death, jahi then began showing, and has continued to show, signs of. Jahi mcmath a dispute over brain death this page collects primary legal materials from the several court proceedings now numbering six concerning the death of jahi mcmath. Jahi mcmath and the philosophical debate over brain death. Thus, there was an urgent need to clarify what constitutes death. The brain death criteria were developed primarily because of the desire to. Remembering jahi mcmath, the person who died twice by dr. While jahi is brain dead, the mcmath family has legally been able to keep her on life support until january 7. Jahi mcmath did not undergo routine tonsil surgery, what she underwent was three different and very serious surgical procedures to correct her sleep apnea. Nailah winkfield fought for her teenage child jahi mcmath to stay on life support and receive medical care in new jersey.
The tragic facts surrounding yearold jahi mcmath are now well known. Jahi mcmath is a 14yearold girl who was when a death certificate was issued for her by the coroner in oakland, california. The case of jahi mcmath, for those who have somehow missed it, involves a yr old girl who suffered a catastrophic postop bleed following her elective surgery for osa leading to a hypoxic brain injury and brain death. As in the case of terri schiavo, people with severe brain injuries are treated like second class citizens, often being denied the treatment, care, and love that their humanity demands. Dec 24, 20 jahi mcmath will stay on life support until at least december 30. I suspect the same or a similar comment would be made by anyone who sees the recording, except a neurologist who participates in the declaration of brain death. This is how jahi mcmath s grandmother, sandra, describes having been treated by one of the doctors at the oaklands children hospital icu. Jahi mcmath, teen at center of medical and religious. Jahi mcmaths family posts new photo of braindead teen. Now her parents and prolife activists are exploiting a gray area of neuroscience for a religious exemption to keep her alive.
Dec 31, 20 the entire brain is not dead in most cases of brain deathstudies have found eeg activity in the majority of socalled braindead patients tested. With all due respect, you are completely ignorant of the facts in this case as revealed right in your first paragraph. The hospital wants to remove her ventilator, but the family is opposed. In this case, this kid was killed by surgery at this hospital, possibly compounded by medical errors. Alameda county jury will decide if jahi mcmath is alive sfgate. Although i have no more details about this case than anyone else reading the news, i am quite familiar with the sort of things that happened to this. Her body has already started to decompose, as revealed in the document. May, 2020 a video recording of an ice cube touched to the foot of jahi mcmath has been distributed.
Sep 06, 2017 jahi mcmath, the oakland teenager whose brain death case has sparked national debate, may not currently fit the criteria of death as defined by a state law written in conjunction with the medical e. Family of braindead jahi mcmath releases video of her. Jan 06, 2014 nailah winkfield, mother of jahi mcmath, who has been declared brain dead after a routine tonsillectomy, talks to media with her husband martin winkfield, in front of childrens hospital in. Family of jahi mcmath, a teen who died of surgical complications in 20, insists she is still alive and healthy after 4 years under machines. Someone, perhaps jahis mother, says, i dont understand how a braindead can. Only if the jury makes such a finding on liability, will it be necessary to move to stage two.
Jahi is alive praise the lord and pass the ammunition. Jahi mcmath will stay on life support until at least december 30. Mar 21, 2016 jahi mcmath, pronounced dead years ago, is healthy, new photo claims. On brain death and the jahi mcmath story christopher johnson. A mechanical ventilator and tube feedings sustained jahi mcmath for 4. On december 9, 20, she underwent an elective tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. After posttonsillectomy bleeding, jahi mcmath suffered a cardiac arrest that damaged her brain. Jahi mcmath was declared brain dead nearly 4 years ago, but now, discovery institutes wesley j. Like many others, i followed the very unfortunate case of jahi mcmath. Jahi mcmath, the girl who is brain dead after a tonsillectomy went wrong, is still on life support after 2 years. The contentious nature of jahi mcmaths case begins after mcmath was declared brain dead by physicians based on the loss of brain function, including her brain stem. Why brain death is considered death and why there should. Imagine sorting through all of that, having real reason to distrust the doctors and then they want to almost immediately pull her off life support.
For organs to be removed, body temperature has to be close to normal, and body temperature is mediated by the hypothalamus, which is part of the brain along with the pituitary gland, part of. Jahi mcmath a dispute over brain death this page collects primary legal materials from the six 6 court proceedings concerning the death of jahi mcmath. The family wants to move her to another facility that will keep jahi on. In case youre new here and dont know jahis story, you can read about it here, here, here, here, and here. Her family did not agree that she was dead and refused to allow her ventilator to be removed. Jahi mcmath assess whether she is alive in april 2017. Sep 21, 2017 jahi mcmath was declared brain dead nearly 4 years ago, but now, discovery institutes wesley j. Possibly photos of jahi at 9 or 10but they sure as hell arent recent. Remembering jahi mcmath, the person who died twice thehill. Add to this that my dads brain was squished by a hemorrhage that was no ones fault.
For materials on brain death generally, see the separate brain death page. Mar 18, 2016 they are of a much younger girlnot the jahi mcmath of today. Dec 31, 20 in the seasons highestprofile case of alleged medical negligence, yearold jahi mcmath, described as suffering from sleep apnea, went in to oakland childrens hospital for surgery. Jahi mcmath, pronounced dead years ago, is healthy, new. Jahi mcmath, may be moving on command after being declared brain dead jahi mcmath s parents are attempting to get their daughters brain death determination reversed. Her family continue to care for her, and she is still on a ventilator. The recent and unfolding tragedy of jahi mcmath, the yearold girl who died following complications of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, has focused many people on the question of brain death. The familys experiences were described in a recent new yorker article that went viral on the internet and has reignited the decadesold debate on brain death. Mcmaths family has said declaring jahi dead by by brain death goes against their religious beliefs. The yearold girl was pronounced dead in december 20 after complications during a routine tonsil. In the seasons highestprofile case of alleged medical negligence, yearold jahi mcmath, described as suffering from sleep apnea, went in to oakland childrens hospital for surgery.
What is the current condition of jahi mcmaths body march. This led to a bioethical debate engendered by her familys rejection of the medicolegal findings of death in the case, and their efforts to maintain her body using mechanical ventilation and other measures. Her story was frequently in the news as a battle between childrens hospital oakland, where her surgery was held and whose recommendation to. In late 20, th en year old jahi mcmath underwent complicated throat surgery, suffered severe blood loss that lead to an anoxicischemic event, and was declared brain dead while a. Mcmath, who had undergone procedures to treat sleep apnea, went. Brain death and the irony surrounding the jahi mcmath. Sattin march 12, 2015 3 comments many readers will be familiar with the case of jahi mcmath. Google zack dunlap for more he was diagnosed brain dead by neurological criteria including pet scan and eeg, just like jahi mcmath. Please scroll all the way down to the very last comment.
Jahi mcmaths family has released a video of her that they say prove shes still alive. A yearold patient named jahi mcmath was determined to be dead by neurologic criteria following cardiopulmonary arrest and resuscitation at a hospital in oakland, california. Jahi mcmath and the philosophical debate over brain death posted by by justin a. Jul 25, 2017 the plaintiffs counsel has agreed that jahi mcmath fulfilled the neurologic criteria for brain death when she was declared brain dead and deceased in december 20, said the statement. Jahi mcmath, is a patient at respondent childrens hospital, california. Someone has stated they know someone who took care of jahi s body in december of 2014. Mcmath had suffered brain damage during a routine surgery in 20. Attorney chris dolan looks at an mri of jahi mcmath at a news conference where he showed video that he says demonstrates that mcmath is. The mother of comatose jahi mcmath posted a photo on social media of the california teen who was declared brain dead two years ago as she. The recent tragedy of jahi mcmath, the yearold girl who died following complications of tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, has focused many people on the question of brain death. Look at the head shape, the immature features, skull size, et.
Implicit in dolans statement is the contention that the deterioration of jahi mcmath is the result of oakland childrens hospital declining to surgically insert a feeding tube for the girl who the lawyer told recently did not receive nutrition for more than three weeks after being declared brain dead. Jan 06, 2014 generally, a braindead persons heart will stop in a few days or weeks, but there have been patients whose hearts have continued to beat for much longer following the diagnosis of brain death. If her cells are receiving oxygenated blood via the ventilator, then why are they breaking down to allow her body to decompose. Mcmath died june 22 at a hospital in new jersey, the familys lawyer, christopher dolan, said in a statement. She physically grew, and she had some volitional movement. Jahi mcmath after nearly 3 years of being on life support, is still showing signs of life. Oakland hospital, coroner return jahi mcmath to family.
After all, brain death or death by any standard is not the predictable. She underwent routine surgery at childrens hospital oakland december 9 for removal of her tonsils and some other tissue to alleviate her sleep apnea. The concept of brain death itself is a consequence of technology. Jahi mcmath gets feeding and breathing tubes cbs news. Jahi mcmath mother photo plea for brain dead daughter now 15. Jun 03, 2015 please scroll all the way down to the very last comment. But this argument has been made by other families and dismissed in several states. Judge ruled jahi mcmath, who suffered complications following dec. Our colleague wesley smith visited the patient and offers a powerful account for first things. Nailah winkfield, mother of jahi mcmath, who has been declared brain dead after a routine tonsillectomy, talks to media with her husband. Mcmath is a yearold black child who went into cardiac arrest and suffered irreparable brain damage after undergoing a tonsillectomy to relieve sleep apnea. What happens after the bedside brain death determination varies a little. Her vital signs have been stable, and there is no sign of deterioration other than what. Jahi mcmath is a living, severely disabled young lady, who currently fulfills neither the standard diagnostic guidelines for brain death nor californias statutory definition of death.
806 215 1551 1189 222 1161 14 828 1499 152 41 31 670 1146 724 923 417 189 801 1147 541 1581 536 557 1472 554 895 1020 1244 261 456