Media and popular culture and controversies in comatose patients

Abstract

Comatose patients may have irrevocably lost all brain function. This condition has been distinguished from other comatose states by the term brain death. Its assessment has been known as the determination of death by neurologic criteria. The clinical diagnosis of brain death implies that the person has died. When the clinical criteria of brain death are met, it allows organ donation or withdrawal of futile support. Without being unnecessarily hostile to the press, one can argue that the representation of comatose states in the media is concerning. Families confronted with this often unexpected loss of life understand this strictly defined neurological condi¬tion well. Unfortunately, the legal cases are surrounded by misinformation and reluctance to understand the implications of these comatose states. Nevertheless, many legal cases are settled in court without much attention. Exposure to the media may solicit physician opinions, and these cases may easily become a spectacle. Bioethical issues do surface under these circumstances.