Sometimes, even with the best efforts of the healthcare team, people in the ICU don’t survive.

A person dies when their heart stops beating or brain stops working (brain death). If the doctors believe that your loved one is brain dead, they’ll do detailed tests to make sure.

Coping with your loss

It may help you to talk to a bereavement counsellor or attend a support group at this difficult time. They can offer support for adults and children. You can find information about some of these supports by reading about grief and bereavement:

• Grief and grieving
• Coping with grief
• Helping children with grief

Organ and tissue donation

Family or next of kin may be asked if they’d consider organ or tissue donation.

You may already know your loved one’s wishes for organ donation, or you may need to make the right decision for your family. This is a hard decision and a personal choice. Your wishes will be respected.

If organ or tissue donation happens, a donor coordinator will talk to you. The ICU staff can help if you have questions.