On dying more than one death

Death (with a capital D) can best be understood as a series of distinct but related deaths. For example, a pregnant woman was found to be brain-dead but her vital functions were artificially sustained for nine weeks until her fetus could be delivered, after which the machines were removed and she died a second, conceptually distinct death. This procedure is probably justifiable, but any legislation or policy regarding such cases should be flexible and should require consent.