What Should We Do About the Mismatch Between Legal Criteria for Death and How Brain Death Is Diagnosed?

AMA J Ethics. 2020 Dec 1;22(12):E1038-1046. doi: 10.1001/amajethics.2020.1038.

Abstract

Mismatch between whole-brain death criteria embedded in statutes and accepted tests physicians use to diagnose brain death have clinical and ethical implications that could undermine public trust in death pronouncements. We consider merits and drawbacks of 4 ways to address this problem.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Brain Death*
  • Humans
  • Trust*