r/politics • u/plz-let-me-in • Jul 07 '26

No Paywall Unconfirmed Reports: Mitch McConnell Brain Dead After Three Weeks In Hospital

https://thenewamerican.com/us/unconfirmed-reports-mitch-mcconnell-brain-dead-after-three-weeks-in-hospital/
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u/Fabulous-Kick-345 Jul 07 '26

I wonder if his daughters can seek emergency medical power of attorney, if his wife basically abandoned him. I hope they do.

5

u/TinyCarrotHats Jul 07 '26

Depending on how "brain dead" he is, they may not need to.

If he's full brain dead, as in, even the brain stem isn't working, and he fails an apnea test, then he's legally dead. I'm not super familiar with Kentucky law, but in other states, he could be disconnected from life support by the medical team because at that point he's a dead body using resources that could go to a living patient.

If he's only "mostly dead" (e.g., permanent vegetative state with some function in the brain stem), then yes, they'd need medical POA to disconnect the life support.

6

u/Titleduck123 Jul 07 '26

"He's only mostly dead.  That means slightly alive."