Volume 30, Issue 4 e70077
ETHICAL DILEMMA

Should Nurses Talk to Brain-Dead Patients?

Michael Clinton

Corresponding Author

Michael Clinton

Hariri School of Nursing, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon

Correspondence:

Michael Clinton ([email protected])

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First published: 16 June 2025

Funding: The author received no specific funding for this work.

*Sally is a pseudonym.

ABSTRACT

Speaking to the deceased is a sign of respect in Middle Eastern countries. However, talking to the brain-dead can create false hope for families and undermine medical authority. While examining moral issues through other ethical frameworks is possible, intensive care unit nurses should prioritize relational ethics when mediating conflicts between physicians and grieving families. By fostering trust with brain-dead patients' families, nurses can create a supportive environment that may encourage consent for organ donation.

Conflicts of Interest

The author declares no conflicts of interest.

Data Availability Statement

A copy of the case study is available from the author, subject to the case study author's permission.

The full text of this article hosted at iucr.org is unavailable due to technical difficulties.