Guidelines - When is someone brain dead?
Charlie Butts - OneNewsNow - 6/26/2010 4:15:00 AMIn order to make sure doctors reach the correct conclusion in determining brain death, new guidelines that call for a lengthy examination have been developed.


The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has issued new guidelines -- an update of rules initially written 15 years ago. Dr. Nick Yates, a spokesman for the Christian Medical Association (CMA), practices medicine in New York, where an existing checklist compares to the new guidelines. He thinks the update is a move in the right direction.

"I think that if this is followed, it should be a very good way of assisting the physicians involved to an accurate determination of death," Yates comments.

He explains that doctors have varied levels of knowledge and experience, but the extensive checklist would remove some of the "guess work" and variability among doctors.

"They need recommendations to follow. So if these are followed, I think it will go a long way with respect to an accurate diagnosis and hopefully removing of the inappropriate diagnosis," the CMA spokesman adds.

He believes that if the AAN puts the guidelines into effect, physicians will become aware of them over time, which would ultimately make them more knowledgeable in reaching their conclusions.