It has been reported that some patients have been misdiagnosed with High Cervical Cord Injury, when in fact the correct diagnosis in their specific case was Brain Stem Death.
A patient with brain death is deemed dead both clinically and legally. Brain death is characterized by an irreversible loss of all brain functions including the brainstem. Patients are usually in coma and have no reflexes in the eyes when the head or moved or when a light is aimed at them. Patients also have no gag reflex. There should be massive damage to the brain. Patients are also unable to breathe without a ventilator.