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25 february 2003

hey, there's a new review!

continued

As a follow-up to Friday's entry, you have likely read that Jesica Santillan passed away this past weekend. Of course, with her death came further controversy that is yet to be resolved. Her family is reported to have wanted a second opinion before doctors ceased life support. Jesica had been declared "brain dead" on Saturday afternoon. This is different from "persistent vegetative state", in that brain death means death. There is no measureable activity in the upper brain and, more importantly, the lower part (the one that controls your breathing and heartbeat.)

In the state of North Carolina, once a person has been declared dead, doctors do not have to ask the family to terminate extraordinary measures.

Additionally, the Santillan family declined to donate Jesica's organs or tissues. Reports are that none of her organs were suitable for donation, due to her extended time on life support, and the infusion of anti-rejection drugs she was given. There has been no definitive report on this matter, and we're not sure if one will appear until the autopsy results are released in six to eight weeks.

From my point of view, it seems that there is an ongoing "they said-they said" battle that continues to escalate. I know that, to some degree, Duke has to put some spin on this story to save face; it's why they did the second transplant to begin with. They knew her chances of surviving it were slim to none. The spokesman for the foundation supporting Jesica has been a real bulldog. If nothing else, I am in awe of his refusal to back down from Duke and the media.

Dialogue continues furiously on this matter, especially regarding malpractice caps that have caused several states' doctors to walk out on the job. John Grogan at the Philadelphia Inquirer has a compelling editorial regarding this matter.

I'll continue to follow this story as we get more details here in NC. This has begun a dialogue that will not abate soon. Bottom line: the American medical system is falling apart at the seams. It leaves all of us wondering what it will take--more senseless deaths, doctor walkouts, public outcry, violence as illustrated in "John Q"--to bring America to the threshold of civilzation again.

A country with a majority of healthy citizens is a civilized country. With 40 million (that's one in seven for those of you who are counting) Americans without health insurance, you'll have a hard time convincing me that we currently deserve that distinction.