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. 2018 Sep;15(3):417-428.
doi: 10.1007/s11673-018-9863-8. Epub 2018 Jul 6.

Medicolegal Complications of Apnoea Testing for Determination of Brain Death

Ariane Lewis  1 , David Greer  2
Affiliations

Medicolegal Complications of Apnoea Testing for Determination of Brain Death

Ariane Lewis et al. J Bioeth Inq. 2018 Sep.

Abstract

Recently, there have been a number of lawsuits in the United States in which families objected to performance of apnoea testing for determination of brain death. The courts reached conflicting determinations in these cases. We discuss the medicolegal complications associated with apnoea testing that are highlighted by these cases and our position that the decision to perform apnoea testing should be made by clinicians, not families, judges, or juries.

Keywords: Apnoea testing; Brain death; Consent.

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