A brain dead patient is being considered for organ donation. The patient's driver's license states that he is an organ donor, but his family states that they cannot make the decision to let him die. Which statement by the RN is most appropriate?
Explanation
•Brain death is the total and irreversible loss of all brain function.
•The patient has met criteria for brain death, so this means that the family does not need to make the decision to let him die because he can already be pronounced dead. The nurse should refocus the family on the issue of organ donation.
•"The decision is not whether to let him die, but whether to honor his wishes regarding organ donation." Although the patient's driver's license states that he is an organ donor, the family must still sign the consent form in most states. In some states (like PA), organ donation does not require family consent if the patient was a registered donor, only that they
•Incorrect: The other statements do not address both the issue of organ donation and the fact that the patient is already brain dead.