Final answer:
A deceased patient is someone who has fully and irreversibly lost all brain function and is unable to breathe or maintain vital functions. Brain death is determined by medical tests. Examples such as Terri Schiavo's case illustrate the ethical and legal complexities surrounding deceased patients.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the deceased patient standard, a deceased patient is someone who has fully and irreversibly lost all brain function, including the brainstem, and is unable to breathe on their own or maintain vital bodily functions. In other words, a deceased patient is someone who has experienced brain death. Brain death is the complete and irreversible loss of brain function, and it is determined by a series of medical tests and assessments.
One example of the deceased patient standard is the case of Terri Schiavo, who was declared brain dead after being in a persistent vegetative state. Her family and the hospital had differing opinions on whether she should remain on life support. Ultimately, the court ruled in favor of removing life support, as Schiavo was considered deceased according to the deceased patient standard.
Another example is the case of the 13-year-old girl who was declared brain dead after complications from surgery. Her family wanted her to remain on life support, but the hospital followed their policies regarding brain dead patients. These examples highlight the complex ethical and legal considerations surrounding deceased patients and the medical response to brain death.