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Right now, not having children and not being in that position, I can say I would let my child's body go since I believe she's actually already gone. But I have no idea how I would react in that situation. I wouldn't say they're being selfish--hope springs eternal, and just one story of someone coming out fine on the other side would make me pray that story would be my child's story, too.

Having taken care of patients declared brain dead in an ICU, I can say that this is such a hard issue. Do I think she should be let go? Absolutely. But when your child is just undergoing a routine procedure and suddenly you're told she's brain dead... I can't even imagine. And I know that when they saw her she would have just looked like she was sleeping peacefully. I'm sure their brains couldn't even process how this could happen. That being said, I hope her family can realize soon that she is indeed gone and let her go. Maybe being out of the hospital and eye of the media will help. The whole thing is so sad.

This is a tragedy for this family, but there child is gone. It's time to bury her and celebrate her life.

@Dandelion: Agreed.

Unfortunately, brain dead is dead. Just the machines keeping body alive. They keep the patient's body alive and it just costs the hospital tons of money. I have 2 children with one on the way. If they were declared brain dead, we'd have to let them go. No one should have to make this decision.

@Mae: I agree. I think the issue in this case is that they don't trust the hospital enough to believe that she is actually brain dead. Who would blame them? She went in for a routine procedure and something went horribly wrong. I personally am not saying it was the hospital's fault - I don't know the details, but it sounds like the family does blame the hospital and they don't trust them enough to believe their diagnosis of brain death.

If it were me, I'd want to be very confident in the diagnosis of brain death. Usually at least two different doctors need to run a bunch of tests to confirm in. I think if I was confident in the diagnosis, I would let my child go - hopefully in enough time to allow for organ donation.

My 84 year old grandfather was in a vegetative state for several weeks following e.coli meningitis and abdominal surgery.... a vegetative state is not the same as brain death... there is a still a very remote chance of recovery. In his case, we did remove supportive measures (ventillator, feeding tube, iv's) per his advanced directive; however, after a week in hospice with no food/meds/and a few days without fluids, he came out of it (a miracle, in my opinion). He was transferred to a rehab facility and made a meaningful recovery (basically, back where he was before). So, I do believe a lot is possible and would not give up hope unless all the criteria for brain death were met... in which case, I hope I would be able to let go. It would be so very hard.

I have no idea what I would do or feel in this situation to be honest. I pray I never have to find out and wish this pain on no one as its just unfathomable to have to decide what to do I think. I am a hope springs eternal person so I think I would have a really hard time letting go and believing that my child couldnt make a recovery. Also I dont doubt the parents are very distrustful of the hospital now and their motives which I dont think is helping with this emotional decision. I hope they find peace and a way to heal regardless of what ends up happening.

i can't imagine losing a child, but their child has died, nothing is going to change that, they're only prolonging the time before they have to say goodbye to her body. if they wanted to keep support going long enough to allow to family & friends to come to say goodbye, to have a doctor they're more comfortable give a second opinion, something like that, i would understand, but i think this is a terrible abuse of resources & i could never put a child's body through more just to avoid saying a final goodbye. if they had been at their own home, doing hospice care & wanted to use their own resources, that would be one thing, but they're taking staff away from other living patients. i don't know what their ins situation is like, but this is costing someone- the state/themselves/the ins companies, unreal amounts of money. i'm not putting a price tag on a little girl's life, the little girl has died, there is no dollar figure that can change that, but those funds come from somewhere & situations like that effect the cost of healthcare for everyone. my heart hurts for the family, i hope they can say goodbye and try to find peace soon.