If her heart is still beating, she can breath without life support. She may need a tube feeding and other nursing care, but not life support.
Well, not really. Different system, actually. Breathing is controlled by the brainstem, and if the brainstem has died, no breathe-now messages will be sent. If they're not sent, the lungs will not oxygenate the blood, because they're not working. The heart may continue to beat for a time with the vent off, but eventually it will stop working too, without oxygen to work with.
Here's the question *I* have. If there were no machines and no medication, would this little dear one be alive? If no, and all the clinical, established markers are met for brain death are met, then to me, the child's brain is dead. There is no recovery from brain death.
It's a horrible situation, and I've seen a few brain-dead patients during my time as a student nurse. It's a horrible thing at any time, but also to have this happen at Christmas/the holidays? Worse yet.
I have huge sympathy for the family; and I have huge sympathy for the hospital and her Drs and RNs.
And please be aware that brain-death and persistent vegetative states are vastly different...with one, there is still hope. With the other, there is no hope.
I further have concerns about the article. It is written not from both sides, but simply from the family's side. If the family has not given permission for the hospital to 'talk' about the issue, then we won't ever get the hospital's side...and the coroner makes some good points in that over time, it will be harder to determine how and why she bled as she did, as the body will change.
I will post more when I have time, as I'm traveling today and need to get hustling on some chores.
I pray for peace for this family, and also for the Drs and RNs who were with this child as she died. They have had trauma too...and as routine as a tonsillectomy is, there are risks involved in any surgery, and even when things are done exactly right, death can happen.
My prayers for all...for peace, for good communication, and for them to all know He holds them in His Hands, and will never let them fall.
Best
Herding Cats