The family of a teenage girl who was declared brain-dead after complications from a tonsil surgery says she’s alive and has proof.
In December of 2013, previous reports indicated that 13-year-old Jahi McMath underwent surgery to have her tonsils taken out. The surgery was meant to improve her quality of life, as she suffered from pediatric obstructive sleep apnea. The sleep apnea caused problems like stop-and-go breathing in her sleep, severe snoring, and lack of attention span.
Following her surgery she went into cardiac arrest and days later was declared brain-dead.
Her family moved her to a New Jersey hospital that was willing to keep her on life support, according to a report by KABC.
KABC said McMath’s mother, Nailah Winkfield, wants to show proof that her daughter is alive. She says the teenager responds to verbal commands and has the video to prove it.
In two separate videos, Winkfield is shown asking McMath to move her arm and her foot. After some coaxing, the video shows McMath moving, just as she was asked.
Some of McMath’s family members went to their attorney to present what they believe is evidence that their daughter is not brain-dead. The attorney said medical tests have shown some brain activity, according to CNN.
Though the family has video of McMath’s responses, biomedical ethics professor David Magnus of Stanford University said he doubts McMath is alive, according to KABC. He said that people declared brain-dead commonly have random body movements, noting that there is no evidence patients who are brain-dead can recover.
A court hearing has been scheduled for October 9. They are hoping a judge will reverse the death certificate so she can return to California for possible medical care.
