Jahi McMath case

Legal and ethical case regarding brain death

Jahi McMath case

The Jahi McMath case is a significant legal and ethical case in the United States that brought attention to the medical, legal, and ethical definitions of brain death. The case involved a young girl, Jahi McMath, who was declared brain dead following complications from surgery, leading to a prolonged legal battle over her medical status and care.

Map of Northern California, where the case took place

Background

Jahi McMath was a 13-year-old girl from Oakland, California, who underwent surgery at Children's Hospital Oakland on December 9, 2013. The surgery was intended to treat her obstructive sleep apnea and involved a tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.

Complications and Declaration of Brain Death

Following the surgery, Jahi experienced severe complications, including heavy bleeding and cardiac arrest. Despite medical interventions, she was declared brain dead on December 12, 2013. The hospital issued a death certificate, but Jahi's family contested the diagnosis, arguing that she was still alive.

Legal Battle

Jahi's family sought legal action to keep her on life support, arguing that she showed signs of life and that the diagnosis of brain death was incorrect. The case was brought before the Alameda County Superior Court, which initially upheld the hospital's determination of brain death. However, the family was granted an extension to keep Jahi on a ventilator while they sought further legal remedies.

Transfer and Continued Care

In January 2014, Jahi was transferred to a facility in New Jersey, a state that allows religious objections to the determination of brain death. There, she received continued medical care, and her family maintained that she showed signs of improvement.

Ethical and Medical Implications

The Jahi McMath case raised significant ethical questions about the definition of brain death and the rights of families to contest medical diagnoses. It highlighted the differences in state laws regarding brain death and the role of religious and cultural beliefs in medical decision-making.

Death

Jahi McMath remained on life support for several years until she died on June 22, 2018, from complications related to liver failure. Her death certificate listed her date of death as December 12, 2013, the date she was declared brain dead.

Related pages

• Brain death
• Medical ethics
• Legal cases in the United States
• Obstructive sleep apnea