In March 2014, Qatar experienced a crisis after Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates recalled their ambassadors from Doha. The action was an outcome of the aforementioned tensions between Qatar and these GCC members, which accused Doha of meddling in their domestic affairs.
Brainstem death. Brainstem death is a clinical syndrome defined by the absence of reflexes with pathways through the brainstemâthe âstalkâ of the brain, which connects the spinal cord to the mid-brain, cerebellum and cerebral hemispheresâin a deeply comatose, ventilator-dependent patient.
Neurologists use different reflexes to see how different parts of the nervous system are functioning. For example, for the knee-jerk reflex to work, the nerves to and from the muscle must be intact, and the spinal cord needs to be working at that level. Similarly, a brainstem reflex, such as the pupils constricting to light, can help a neurologist know that the brainstem is working properly.