Dr. Kirschen is an Assistant Professor in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Pediatrics, and Neurology, and the Associate Director of pediatric neurocritical care at CHOP. His research focuses on detecting and preventing brain injury in critically ill children. He is the vice-chair of the Ethics, Health, Law and Humanities Committee, a joint committee of the American Academy of Neurology, Child Neurology Society, and the American Neurological Association, and is a member of the AAN Brain Death Workgroup.
Navigating Objections to Brain Death Declaration in a Family-Centered Environment
Tuesday, November 30, 2021, at 3:00pm
Understanding Death by Neurological Criteria (Brain Death) is challenging, especially for families processing the loss of their loved ones. That said, it is not uncommon for families of patients exhibiting signs of brain death to react to the prognosis with denial. This discussion will highlight two cases where the healthcare and OPO teams were faced with family objection to Brain Death declaration. The first case will examine protocols implemented to address family objections that took place before testing has started, and the second will examine protocols implemented where objections occurred after the patient was declared brain dead. We will be joined by a multidisciplinary panel of professionals who will share insights and offer strategies from their unique perspectives.