Brother sentenced to 19 yrs to life & is currently in CA prison? He needs medical attention asap after shunt malfunction what, if anything,can I do?

  As you may know, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is under the protection of the federal courts and a receiver has been appointed because the Department's medical care is unsatisfactory or non-existant.  The Department's overcrowding of prisoners is a big factor in inferior medical care. 

You should contact the receiver who is in Sacramento and the Prison Law Office near San Quentin prison.  You can make a report to the receiver and he will bring this matter up before the federal judge and the Department.  Go to the CDCR's website and follow the link to the "receivership." Or, google Receivership and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for the receiver's website that has much information.  As you undoubtedly know, unless you get some outside assistance, the Department of Corrections won't lift a finger to help your brother.

Having the receiver's office help your brother is the best way to go in dealing with the DOC. That your brother has pressure on his brain is a matter that, I think it can safely be said, is a matter of complete indifference to the department.