Chapter 2540: Truly Professional

Simply using the ventilator artificial lung on a patient for an extended period will inevitably lead to infection. When the medication is used extensively, it becomes resistant, and ultimately many such patients die from infection, which is all too common.

Modern medicine has no means to replace all functions of the brain.

The brain’s functions go far beyond thought, autonomous breathing, blood pressure regulation, or temperature regulation. Without the brain’s command, it’s merely a matter of minutes before the body’s functional regulation becomes chaotic and dysfunctional, with other organs’ functions unable to sustain for long.

Clinically, the most common scenario is when true whole brain death occurs, as is the case now with Xiao Yu, with other organs gradually presenting issues that machines cannot sustain. As doctors emphasize, money shouldn’t be wasted on this matter at all.

Doctors understand the public’s fear of brain death. What the public fears is the misdiagnosis of brain death.

As pointed out by Cao Yong in previous discussions with the Cao brothers, from the perspective of medical technology, the ratio of misdiagnosis is extremely low, almost impossible, unless someone’s conscience is compromised.

Medicine emphasizes brain stem death as a key step in diagnosing brain death to prevent misdiagnosis; yet brain stem death does not equal whole brain death. However, since the brain stem is the sole pathway connecting the brain and spinal cord, severe brain stem injury will likely rapidly evolve into whole brain death. Xiao Yu’s death followed this course.

If the family intends to donate, do not wait until problems arise besides the brain; otherwise, there won’t be anything to donate.

In such cases, some families might consider the doctor’s repeated mention of this as "cold-hearted": You’re "urging" me to donate, and I haven’t even finished grieving, I’m still hurt. Are you harboring some ulterior profit-driven motive?

If not for the doctor noticing that you want your family to live on in another way in the world, the doctor wouldn’t "urge" you; don’t overthink it.

In reality, doctors must earnestly address academic issues and fulfill their duty to inform the family without contemplating other miscellaneous thoughts. This was Cao Yong’s stern advice to Fang Ze’s peers.

Senior Cao, as an academic, is highly principled. This is the thought among several younger junior sisters and brothers.

This child patient is not under Zhai Yunsheng’s care. Zhai Yunsheng can only occasionally inquire with colleagues about progress. Today, after visiting, he found this issue and, being of the same workplace, was less candid than a nephew would be.

The attending team for the child patient frowned with concern. Due to the strong-willed attitude of four elderly people, the attending team felt a bit hesitant. Now, it’s like an outsider threw cold water on their heads, making them fully alert.

If the donation fails due to tardiness, it’s tantamount to stripping away another opportunity for the patient to "live" in this world. The responsibility of the physicians for not fulfilling the duty to inform is indeed theirs.

Doctor Cheng Yuchen suddenly called the students: "Hurry back to the hospital, there’s news."

The phrase "there’s news" means Zhu Xing’s new heart is secured.

Every doctor who heard the good news was jubilant.

Cao Yong immediately volunteered to drive the junior brothers and sisters back.

On the road, Wei Shangquan bravely asked the senior for advice: "Senior Cao, have you ever witnessed a heart transplant surgery?"

"If you’ve visited our Hepatobiliary Surgery department and seen transplant surgery, you should have some insights on organ transplantation; go ahead and tell me your thoughts," said Cao Yong.

Initially intending to seek experience from the senior, Wei Shangquan ended up being countered with a challenge.

Wei Shangquan scratched his head: "I haven’t been to Hepatobiliary Surgery."

This student Wei is quite something, tossing the hot potato to the other two classmates.