Natasha Richardson

[noddyholder]

has donated her organs for transplant.This is more publicity that the organ awareness campaign could ever hope for.great to see this made public

I read it was denied that her organs had been taken before she was dead.

I read that her organs had been donated. I hope it is confirmed more by her family.

Here's what I don't understand.

OK, she had a brain injury, and her life support was turned off. But wasn't it all a bit quick?

I'm not making judgements about a personal decision, but seem to remember that when my dad was on life support, they had to do a brain scan on him after 72 hours to confirm no activity.

In any case, what a horrible accident.

I'm glad I wasn't the only one who sort of noticed that, ilove. She was also buried in record time, too.

I mean, God rest her soul and all that, but it did sort of make me go .

expat - I think she was buried according to an irish timescale which is pretty quick. It's the same in some parts of Scotland and dh (scottish) tends to think anything longer than about 4 days is outrageous delay whereas my family go for 7-10 days.

Yep -as someone of Irish descent I can confirm that burial is usually pretty quick. Anything up to 4 days is acceptable - longer than that is unusual.

What on earth are you suggesting? That she was bumped off so they could use her organs????

I didn't think the funeral was quick, normal timescale I thought. Whereas I think Jade's funeral is a long time after her death.

Thanks, Northern et al. I thought that might be the case, as MIL's mother was from Cork and was buried very shortly after her death per her own wishes. She died and DH said there was a wake a couple of days later then the day that she was laid to rest.

He said his other grandparents, Scots, were also buried within 4 days of their deaths but the wake was after the funeral.

I am Catholic of Mexican origin and traditionally the wake is before the funeral, too. Usually, a Rosary is prayed during the wake and some will refer to the wake as 'A Rosary'.

Any Scots funeral I've been at the wake has been after the burial/cremation. I didn't know the Irish have it before the funeral

No, not suggesting anything sinister, just a bit odd.

I was under the impression that brain activity was monitored over the span of a few days. This is based on when my dad was on life support and it was suggested that they re scan his brain at least after 72 hours.

Just a bit surprised that the decision to turn off her life support was so quick.

DH said the same, Saltire. That Scots have the wake after the burial/cremation.

I didnt think it was particularly quick.
The American recommendations for diagnosing brain death are for 2 examinations around 6 hours apart.

MIL was on life support and was switched off the day after she had her brain haemorrage, so no 72 hour delay there (Scotland)

I know nothing about these things - so don't shout at me if I'm way off the mark .

Perhaps she had requested to her family that she wasn't kept alive under such circumstances if there was brain damage to an extent that even if she regained concicousness her life would be dramatically changed.

Sorry - that was badly worded (I've only just woken up) , but I know in threads about assisted suicide etc several MNers have stated that if they were to get alzheimers or if the were suddenly in a coma with brains injuries that were likely to affect their quality of life (I know quality of life is subjective before you flame me - I'm trying to paraphrase badly) then they wouldn't wan to be kept alive.

Is it possible that the initial scans showed that Natasha was going to be badly affected if she ever regained conciousness so her family followed her wishes???

My dad was in an American hospital, so would have gone by the American guidelines which were 72 hours.

Doesn't 6 hours seem a bit quick?

FAQ - good point. Hadn't thought of that

that poor lady. imagine going like that, so young as well, and those two bairns still so young.

Here are the guidelines if you want to see them (the information about timing is given under heading IV):

link

her legacy is that her organs will greatly improve someone else quality of life.very altruistic.at such a harrowing time to think of others and donate

if all the clinical signs were no brain activity then that would be pretty conclusive.perhaps no point prolonging the family agony

hinting it was too quick is ghoulish,we weren't there they were

each case is different,so maybe one individual longer period of assessment

Her legacy would also include her two sons, no?

But I agree, if I get an injury like that where I'm brain dead, then I want to be packed off asap, because let's face it, getting that injured when you're my age (38) doesn't bode well for any sort of quality of life recovery (none that I'd want to have).

It's not ghoulish to suggest it was all quite quick.

Sorry, but I do have experience of a close family member being brain dead, so speak from experience.

The guidelines linked state the 6 hours is arbitrary, and yes, I feel that based on monitoring 6 hours, it may be conclusive.

Obviously I wasn't there. Duh.

They made the best decision possible with the information available.

All I am suggesting that if it was my family member, I wouldn't be comfortable with a very quick decision.

People are different.

I agree it's not ghoulish at all, ilove.

It struck me as very quick, too, although I did assume it might be because of Irish or British traditions surrounding death, of which admittedly I don't know much.

and I know nothing about procedures for terminating life support, thankfully.

but it's an honest enough question and not a ghoulish one.