Withdrawing Life-Sustaining Therapies and the Conundrum of “Brain Death”: A Clinical Case at the Intersection of Spiritual and Clinical Care for Muslims

Abstract

Abid is a previously healthy eight-year-old boy admitted to the PICU with acute respiratory failure resulting from traumatic brain injury sustained in a dirt bike accident. On presentation to the ED with CPR ongoing, Abid was intubated and resuscitated, and return of spontaneous circulation was achieved. Imaging found evidence of extensive traumatic brain injury, cerebral edema, and atlanto-occipital dislocation. Abid’s clinical examination findings progressed to be consistent with brain death on hospital day 4, which was confirmed with cerebral perfusion scan on hospital day 5.