Russian Teen Dies

Jun 20, 06:10 PM

Current Headlines: By Randy Ellis, The Daily Oklahoman

Jun. 20--Russian teenager David Kurbanov died early today, bringing a sad conclusion to an international saga that began eight months ago when he was brought to Oklahoma City for potentially life-saving charitable brain surgery that quickly turned into a medical nightmare.

David was officially declared dead at 12:38 a.m. today after his heart stopped beating, St.Anthony Hospital said in a statement released this morning.

David traveled halfway around the world to Oklahoma City's St. Anthony Hospital last October for complex charitable surgery to remove a tumor growing out of his brain stem. He slipped into a coma soon after the surgery and doctors declared him brain dead Nov. 27.

At the request of his father, Sabit Kurbanov, machines have been used since that time to keep David's other organs functioning.

His dad said as recently as Friday that he expected his son would one day wake up.

The father has clashed repeatedly with doctors and some hospital staff members over his son's care

"The hospital staff took extraordinary life saving measures to keep David's heart beating consistent with his father's wishes, but eventually those measures were unsuccessful and David's heart stopped beating," the hospital's statement said. "The hospital extends its sympathy and prayers to the family during this tragic time."

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