After reading Chapter 6 of When the air hits your brain please respond to the following:
“Shirley was now the typical “multiple” trauma. With at least two of her vital organs in need of surgical repair, we had to decide which organ took priority. Was it better to have a new Teflon aorta transmitting blood to a worthless brain, or a good brain in a body dead from aortic rupture?
Dr, Vertosick was faced with this decision. How does one make this difficult decision about a patient’s life? What additional information would be needed to help make this decision (tests, family, patient)?
What resources should be available to those providing care to the patient to help deal with such difficult decisions?