Conflict in the parameters defining life and death in Missouri statutes

Over the last twenty years, state legislatures have enacted statutes incorporating medically and legally established criteria to be utilized in the determination of death. Similarly consistent criteria for determining the onset of life have yet to be established. As a result, unacceptably conflicting statutory language defining life and the state's interest in that life exists. This conflict can be resolved by a functional approach that consistently applies criteria used to define the end of life to the beginning of life.