Boniface Kariuki Mwangi, who was shot by a police officer in Nairobi during protests was declared clinically brain dead, in a medical report which the family confirmed during press briefing on Sunday, June 29.
The family, which is now seeking assistance from well wishers to raise hospital bill, said that they have confirmed that he is Brain dead, “and you know what that means.”
Also, the family indicated that it could however be hard to perform mercy killing for Boniface because “…the law does not allow us to switch off the machine…we have been told to wait for his fate.”
Bonface had recently been declared clinically dead, in a vegetative state.
What Is A Vegetative State?
To be in a vegetative state means that the patient will depend on machine support to stay alive.
At this level, in some instances some families seek a Court order for the plug to be pulled so as to prepare for a decent send off.
In this state, the patient cannot move or do anything.
How Boniface Ended Up In Vegetative State
Boniface Kariuki sustained multiple injuries of a gunshot, with at least one bullet confirmed to have lodged in the cranial cavity.
Imaging studies (CT/MRI) revealed that the projectile(s) penetrated critical areas of the brain, causing extensive damage to brain tissue.
Since then he remains unresponsive to external stimuli and is currently in a coma.
His Neurological Status, including Clinical assessment and imaging indicate irreversible damage to brain matter.
There is NO evidence of cerebral activity consistent with consciousness or awareness.
The Prognosis
Based on current evaluations, the patient is diagnosed with brain death or is in a persistent vegetative state.
While vital signs may be artificially maintained through medical support, higher brain functions, such as memory, recognition, or response to surroundings, are no longer present or recoverable.
Medical Establishment
While Kariuki may physically survive with life-sustaining interventions, the extent of the brain damage means he will never regain cognitive functions or awareness. His condition is deemed medically irreversible.
Recommendations
- Continued critical care monitoring.
- Discussion with next of kin regarding prognosis and possible decisions about long-term life support.
- Psychological support for the family
What Is Brain Death?
Brain death is the permanent, irreversible, and complete loss of brain function, which may include cessation of involuntary activity (e.g., breathing) necessary to sustain life.
It differs from persistent vegetative state, in which the patient is alive and some autonomic functions remain.
It is also distinct from comas as long as some brain and bodily activity and function remain, and it is also not the same as the condition locked-in syndrome. A differential diagnosis can medically distinguish these differing conditions.
10 Facts You Should Know About Brain Death
- Brain death is irreversible; the brain permanently stopps working once it dies.
- It involves total loss of brain function, including the brainstem.
- A brain-dead person cannot breathe on their own.
- It is not the same as a coma or a vegetative state.
- Brain death is considered legal death in most countries.
- Machines may keep the heart beating, but the person is already dead.
- Diagnosis requires strict neurological tests by medical experts.
- No recovery is possible once brain death is confirmed.
- It often leads to organ donation discussions with families.
- Understanding brain death helps avoid false hope and confusion.
