- December 20, 2024
- Community
The sudden passing of a loved one can be traumatic for surviving family members. Feelings of grief and anger may also be elevated if their passing could have possibly been prevented. In the case of an inevitable death, your loved one’s organs may be donated to other patients if your loved one or their power of attorney – if given the authority – has consented. However, what can be done if a patient was neglected or intentionally made to pass? Unfortunately, a family in North Carolina is currently working through the aftermath of this situation. Quentin Brogdon of Crain Brogdon LLP in Dallas, TX, shared his thoughts on this recent incident.
The Timeline Of Events
A 19-year-old college athlete was struck by a vehicle after helping another driver who was involved in a car wreck. Unfortunately, he suffered massive brain trauma and was placed on a ventilator at the hospital. Family members claim that the patient was not being cared for properly and that doctors abandoned life saving efforts too soon.
The hospital allegedly called the police on the family members as they begged hospital staff to save the patient’s life. Family members of the deceased speculate that the hospital did not properly care for the deceased so the organs could later be used.
How Medical Brain Death Is Determined
In a case of brain death, a patient would be considered legally dead. However, there is a dispute within the medical community about the proper way to diagnose brain death. A brain may not respond to neurological testing, but may still have “enough blood flow to maintain viability, meaning recovery is still possible,” states Heidi Klessig M.D. Based on the information publicly available, it is unclear whether the hospital staff acted within appropriate protocols.
What Quentin Brogdon Has To Say
It is an exceptionally difficult situation to decide whether to keep your loved one on life support or end care. If the patient or family consented to organ donation, then this may be a less complex situation in the event of their passing. However, there is the possibility that the hospital acted out of protocol and also treated the family members poorly. Family members have alleged that the patient was not treated appropriately and question whether the organ donation was consensual or forced. Quentin Brogdon stated in an interview regarding the case that while he did not know enough facts to make definitive conclusions, if the actions leading up to the death of the patient were deliberate, “intuitively and legally that should be wrong, and the hospital should be held accountable.”
Schedule A Consultation With Crain Brogdon LLP
The experienced team of catastrophic injury attorneys at Crain Brogdon LLP in Dallas, TX, may be able to help you navigate a personal injury case. Call our team today at (214) 522-9404 to schedule a consultation.
Attorney Quentin Brogdon
Quentin Brogdon has over thirty years of experience and expertise in the field of personal injury trial law. He is board certified in both personal injury trial law and civil trial advocacy. Quentin has received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating. This rating reflects an attorney’s ethics and abilities according to reviews from fellow attorneys. [ Attorney Bio ]
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