After Receiving an Urgent Call from His Father About an Automobile

Multiple Choice

After receiving an urgent call from his father about an automobile accident involving his mother, Peter races to the hospital. He learns from the hospital staff that his mother is brain dead. The emergency room physician explains to Peter that his mother ____.

A) has a 50% chance of making a full recovery depending on the success of upcoming surgeries and physical therapy
B) requires a respirator because there was selective damage to her brain stem
C) suffered irreversible damage to her cerebral cortex and will not regain consciousness
D) can hear his voice and knows that Peter and his father are with her