Bench-to-bedside review: When is dead really dead - On the legitimacy of using neurologic criteria to determine death
DOI
10.1186/cc5690
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
3-13-2007
Publication Title
Critical Care
Volume
11
Issue
2
ISSN
13648535
Abstract
This review explores the legitimacy of the whole brain death (WBD) criterion. I argue that it does not fulfill the traditional biologic definition of death and is, therefore, an unsound clinical and philosophical criterion for death. I dispute whether the clinical tests used to diagnose WBD are sufficient to prove all critical brain functions have ceased, as well as examine the sets of brain functions that persist in many WBD patients. I conclude that the definition of death must be modified from a biologic to an ontologic model if we intend to maintain the WBD criterion. © 2007 BioMed Central Ltd.
Open Access
Gold
Repository Citation
Whetstine, L. (2007). Bench-to-bedside review: When is dead really dead - On the legitimacy of using neurologic criteria to determine death. Critical Care, 11 (2). https://doi.org/10.1186/cc5690