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Related Experiment Videos

Death on neurological grounds

C Machado1

  • 1Istituto de Neurologìa y Neurocirugìa Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba.

Journal of Neurosurgical Sciences
|December 1, 1994
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The definition of death has shifted from cardiopulmonary function to brain function. This study proposes a new definition of death based on the irreversible loss of consciousness, encompassing both capacity and content.

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Area of Science:

  • Medical Ethics
  • Neuroscience
  • Philosophy of Death

Background:

  • Historically, death was defined by the cessation of cardiopulmonary function.
  • The advent of Intensive Care shifted definitions towards irreversible cessation of brain function.
  • Current neurological definitions debate the extent of brain death required (whole brain, brainstem, higher brain).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate existing brain-oriented definitions of death.
  • To propose a novel, comprehensive definition of human death.
  • To address the challenges in defining death based on consciousness.

Main Methods:

  • Critical analysis of existing death definitions.
  • Philosophical and ethical discourse on consciousness and human identity.

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  • Conceptual framework development for a new death definition.

    • Main Results:

    • Existing brain-oriented definitions are insufficient and debated.
    • The irreplaceable human characteristic is the 'content' of consciousness.
    • Society is not yet prepared for a consciousness-content-based death standard in all cases (e.g., PVS, dementia, anencephaly).

    Conclusions:

    • A proposed definition of death: 'The irreversible loss of consciousness, considering both its capacity and its content'.
    • This definition integrates the essential components of consciousness crucial for the functioning of the 'organism as a whole'.
    • Acknowledges societal readiness challenges for implementing a content-based death standard.