Two hours ago, an unknown 30-odd year old man was brought in to the ER with severe head injuries. Brain was literally pouring out of the right side of his head and blood was pumping out of his nose and mouth and slowly seeping out of his ears. We finally came upon the family too late. He was in florid DIC and the futility of the situation was crystal clear. We stopped the resuscitation just as the family arrived at the bedside.
Death is only a few minutes away.
I have always been uncomfortable with the concept of organ donation. Invariably, the donor is a previously healthy young person who suffers a catastrophic event, be it a cerebral aneurysm or a motorcycle accident or a severe head injury. If the patient has not expressed wishes, it is the family's decision whether or not to donate organs. If this sounds selfish coming from a physician, so be it. Perhaps it is a sense that I have given enough of my self to the sick already.