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Stanford Doctor Appointed By Court To Test Jahi McMath Disputes Family's Claim She Is Alive

OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- A Stanford doctor appointed by a court to test for brain activity in 13-year-old Jahi McMath said he does not see any proof the Oakland girl is alive.

Pediatric neurologist Paul Fisher told the judge the tests performed on the teenager did not meet the requirements for determining brain death.

The girl is currently being cared for at a New Jersey facility.

Fisher cited one example of an electroencephalogram (EEG) test to detect electrical activity in the brain using electrodes attached to the scalp. The EEG submitted by McMath's lawyers reportedly shows activity, but Fisher said the activity recorded could have come from elsewhere on her body or the environment.

The test results were submitted as part of a petition filed by Jahi's mother, who is seeking a court order to have her daughter declared alive. Last week, the family's lawyer released video purportedly showing the girl responding to commands.

She was declared brain dead at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland in December after she suffered cardiac arrest during what was supposed to be a routine operation for sleep apnea.

McMath family attorney Christopher Dolan said a hearing scheduled for Thursday was postponed so experts retained by the family can speak directly to Fisher.

Dolan also said in a press statement that the McMath family would hold a prayer vigil for Jahi at Yeshua Our Lord church in Oakland.

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