A multi-disciplinary approach to families of brain dead children.
OBJECTIVE
To relate our multi-disciplinary approach to families of brain dead children.


METHODS
The professional experiences of critical care health care providers and the review of the medical and legal literature.


METHODS
Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.


METHODS
Paediatric critical care physicians, primary paediatricians, paediatric critical care nurses, social worker, hospital chaplain and organ procurement coordinator.


RESULTS
We describe our multi-disciplinary approach towards education of families of children who have suffered severe brain injury likely to result in brain death. We feel this approach has resulted in better understanding and acceptance of brain death. We also discuss methods of addressing special circumstances around child abuse, religious exemption and organ procurement.


CONCLUSIONS
Our multi-disciplinary approach may assist clinicians and other health care providers in successfully dealing with families of brain dead children.
Powers
K S
KS
Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY, USA.
Goldstein
B
B
Merriam
C
C
Chiafery
M
M
Tornabene
L
L
Paprocki
S
S
D001926:Brain Death; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002977:Clergy; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D010372:Pediatrics; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D012067:Religion; D012947:Social Work; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement