BRAIN-DEATH DURING PREGNANCY

The case of a pregnant patient who had a massive intracraneal haemorrh age at 18 weeks of gestation is presented. Patient's neurological dama ge evolved to brain death, but the fetus continued in good condition. The decision of withdrawing life support or to continue supporting the mother's life to allow fetal development aroused difficult ethical qu estions, both to relatives and professionals. This is an exceptional s ituation of a heart beating cadaver and a non viable fetus whose life depends on the continuation of treatments that are considered as exper imental. A good decision should be based on the respect to a body in b rain death, the fetal right to life, family's wishes and values, the u se of experimental treatments, and the rational use of a public hospit al's resources. The conclusion was that the continuation of life suppo rt treatments was not an ethical obligation. Withdrawing life support to allow fetal death in this case means foregoing an experimental trea tment and to respect family's autonomy and the right of the patient's death with dignity. Similar cases need to be discussed with a multidis ciplinary analysis in their own particularity.