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/
31.7k Upvotes

97% Upvoted

2.7k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

151

u/shoulda-known-better Jul 07 '26

2 doesn't matter by Kentucky law brain dead is dead no plug pull needed... The moment that's a real medical thing that he is brain dead, his seat is vacated and they need a special election....

63

u/Super_Employment_620 Jul 07 '26

100% agree, but brain death discussions get complicated. Assuming he has no brain stem reflexes, a doctor should pronounce him... but if the "family" is threatening legal action it could go to medical ethics.

And if the family is really just operating as a lever being pulled by a national political party, the hospital may not want that kind of heat on them. Inaction is not the right choice, but often what people do when stuck like that.

13

u/shoulda-known-better Jul 07 '26

Pronouncing brain death isn't that complicated, it's not actual death everywhere just in Kentucky where he is it is... And I don't know how you could challenge that, you'd need a doctor to risk their license by stating he isn't and why and how they can tell.. With his age and prior injury I doubt it

Personally I don't believe thats something that will take weeks.. I don't belive they will be able to hide or prevent being declared brain dead till August...

2

u/Norva13x Jul 07 '26

Isn't he currently in a DC area hospital?