Trust and conflict in death determination—reflections on the legacy of Taquisha McKitty

Abstract

Twenty-seven-year-old Taquisha McKitty lies on her back in a bed of the intensive care unit (ICU) at William Osler Hospital in Brampton, Ontario.Her eyes are closed, and the expression on the young mother's face is peaceful.A plastic tube taped to her cheek guides air into her lungs from the ventilator humming next to the bed, and her chest rises and falls with each regular breath.Chairs for visitors, almost always occupied by a parent, cousin, sibling, or aunt, are positioned under computer monitors, which display in neon green the regular dip and fall of her heart rhythm.Occasionally, Taquisha's toes and feet twitch, and