LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Death by neurological criteria is often daunting for all parties involved. In recognition of this, a special one-day seminar for physicians involved in the determination of brain death will be held Oct. 3 at Adventist Health White Memorial Simulation Center in Los Angeles. The program is conducted in collaboration with and sponsored by OneLegacy, the largest organ, eye and tissue recovery organization in the country.
Conducting the program will be Gene Yong Sung, M.D., M.P.H., chief of the division of neurocritical care and stroke at the Keck School of Medicine at USC and former president of the Neurocritical Care Society.
Historically, the customary criteria for determining death was “cardio pulmonary,” i.e., after breathing and heartbeat cease. However, technological advancements in critical care have made continued circulation and respiration possible through mechanical means even after a person’s brain function has ceased. Today healthcare professionals, members of the clergy and the general public more readily acknowledge that a person is dead when his or her brain is dead.
Brain death is the irreversible loss of all functions of the brain, including the brainstem. The three essential findings in brain death are coma, absence of brainstem reflexes and apnea. With this as a foundation, all of the Oct. 3 seminar’s activities—which will include lecture, small group discussions and hands-on demonstrations—have been specially designed to help physicians identify and implement evidenced-based practices, as outlined by the American Association of Neurology, when determining death by neurologic criteria. Physicians will also enhance their knowledge as it relates to improved patient safety, communicating the declaration of death to families, and helping to ensure that the process is appropriately outlined and implemented at their own local hospital.
The seminar has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of CME consultants and OneLegacy. A maximum of 6.75 AMA PRA Category 1 credits will be awarded to program participants.
Adventist Health White Memorial Simulation Center is located at 1720 East Cesar East Chavez Avenue in Los Angeles. Additional information on the seminar may be obtained by contacting Seung Lee at slee@onelegacy.org. To register, contact Yamillet Dominguez at 213-356-5248 or ydominguez@onelegacy.org.
About OneLegacy
OneLegacy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and healing lives through organ, eye and tissue donation in seven counties in Southern California: Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Kern. Serving more than 200 hospitals, 11 transplant centers, and a diverse population of nearly 20 million, OneLegacy is the largest organ, eye and tissue recovery organization in the world. For more information, visit onelegacy.org, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
