Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to SmallvilleNews. We hope you enjoy your visit.







Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Weird; "Brain dead"
Topic Started: Thu Sep 23, 2004 10:28 am (109 Views)
Renee
Member Avatar
Don't mess with JS
I wasn't sure I remembered exactly what brain death entailed. So I looked it up and found the following:

"Brain death is defined as the irreversible loss of all functions of the brain. It can be determined in several ways. First - no electrical activity in the brain; this is determined by an EEG. Second - no blood flow to the brain; this is determined by blood flow studies. Third - absence of function of all parts of the brain - as determined by clinical assessment (no movement, no response to stimulation, no breathing, no brain reflexes.). . . .

"Because the brain is enclosed in the skull, it does not have room to swell, thus pressure within the skull increases (this is "intracranial pressure"). This can stop blood flow to the brain, killing brain cells and causes herniation of the brain (pushing the brain outside of its normal space). When brain cells die, they do not grow back, thus any damage caused is permanent and irreversable.

"Some points to note:
A persons' heart can still be beating because of the ventilator and medications helping to keep the blood pressure normal.
A person who is declared brain dead is legally dead."

http://www.transweb.org/qa/asktw/answers/a...braindeath.html

Also this:

"The criterion for the determination of death has always been left to physicians. The diagnosis of 'brain death' is only possible because of modern medicine's ability to maintain the functions of supporting organs of the body after the brain is no longer viable. This support of the body is essential to evaluate the patient for possible survival and returning function of the brain. Once the examination of the brain has determined that it is no longer viable and there is no chance of any recovery of function, the 'brain death' diagnosis is made.

"Once a patient fulfills this medical criterion, nothing can be done for the patient. The patient can still be maintained physiologically on the ventilator, but there is no hope of any kind of recovery, even to a state of irreversible coma.

"The brain performs many functions, including thought, movement and all the neurological function that allow the body to maintain blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and organ function. When the brain dies, the body's organs will collapse. Massive artificial medical measures must be started to maintain organ function, but even in the best hands, these interventions are only a temporary measure."

http://health.howstuffworks.com/brain-death5.htm

***

If I'm reading all this correctly, a brain-dead person is dead. He's not "mostly dead," as they say in "The Princess Bride" -- he's DEAD. No hope whatsoever -- not even .00001 percent chance of recovery. Now, I'm about as anti-euthanasia as they come, and even I can't see the point of keeping someone on a machine -- no matter how much I loved him -- in such a case. You can't kill someone who's dead. And you can't bring him back, either, unless you happen to be God. (Or Clark, in this particular case. :) )

So why would they go so far as to make Jonathan brain-dead in this episode? They didn't have to. They could have just had him in a coma, with his chances so bad as to be ALMOST completely hopeless, and still asked Martha if she wanted to pull the plug. That happens in real life, and it would have made the whole thing more believable.

The only possible reason I can see for her to hold out is that she might have suspected there was some kind of link between Jonathan and Clark, and that if Clark could be recovered, Jonathan might also. But she said she thought she'd lost Clark forever, so that doesn't make sense.

Any thoughts? Am I missing something? :confused:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Smallvillian
Member Avatar
Jonathan's Lady
I think this is one of those matters where they went for over the top drama by saying he was brain dead. Brain death means that all that makes you who you are: Your awareness, your personality, your ability to do even the simplest thing is not existant because there is no brain activity to facilitate any of it. That being said, Martha knows that they are not dealing with ordinary things in their lives. She has seen some pretty amazing things--including her son being instantly healed. So I think some part of her just hung on to all the unexplained miracles, all those wonderous things she had seen so far. And thank goodness she did. Not only that but she must know how hard Jonathan fought to save her when she was ill and nearly died. To not give him every chance on earth probably was never an option.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
wallflower
Expert
This is something that happened recently to someone I know.
This man had a massive heart attack and was taken to the hospital. His wife and family were told that he basically had no chance of recovery but his wife would not give up. She wanted whatever could be done to him to be done, if with the chance that he might end up a vegetable. The doctors told her kids that he was going to have to face reality sometime and make a choice about him. Well, I am glad to report that he now has a mechanical heart and is improving, he is still in the hospital and is on a list to get a heart transplant.

Sometimes, people just won't give up or possibly can't let go.

But, I think in the situation of the show, they probably did that for dramatic tension.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
LivvieLovesClark
Member Avatar
Owner of the flying pink monkeys!
When they said Jonathan was brain dead and Martha insisted that she wouldn't pull the plug, my eyes we're like bulging out of my sockets or something. I was losing my mind!! Ask my relatives!!!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · The LJLS Forum · Next Topic »
Add Reply