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Brain death: a durable consensus?

Daniel Wikler

    Bioethics
    |April 1, 1993
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    The current whole-brain definition of death may be a temporary solution, not a permanent resolution to complex ethical and legal issues. Further discussion is needed to explore alternative perspectives on the definition of death.

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    Area of Science:

    • Medical Ethics
    • Philosophy of Medicine

    Background:

    • The prevailing global consensus defines death based on the irreversible cessation of all whole-brain functions.
    • This definition emerged as a pragmatic solution to contemporary medical and legal needs.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To critically re-examine the long-term viability and adequacy of the whole-brain definition of death.
    • To challenge the conventional wisdom surrounding the definition of death and propose a re-opening of the debate.

    Main Methods:

    • Philosophical and ethical analysis of the concept of death.
    • Review of historical trends in bioethics and medical definitions of death.
    • Reference to the 1982 President's Commission report on ethical problems in medicine.

    Main Results:

    Keywords:
    Analytical ApproachDeath and EuthanasiaPresident's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems

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    • The argument suggests the whole-brain definition might be a temporary expedient rather than a final resolution.
    • The current consensus may be insufficient to address profound, unresolved issues in defining life and death.
    • The issue of defining death is presented as far from settled.

    Conclusions:

    • The whole-brain definition of death warrants further critical evaluation and debate.
    • Contemporary bioethical trends may necessitate a re-evaluation of established definitions of death.
    • The established consensus on the definition of death may be a temporary placeholder for deeper ethical considerations.