title: Conceptual and practical issues in the declaration of death by brain criteria.
abstract: Brain death as a diagnosis is extremely important for twentieth century neurology and neurosurgery. If a determination is done carefully, there is little question that it defines a state in which return of brain function is impossible. Several practical and theoretical issues involving the declaration have been discussed at length in this article.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D001926:Brain Death / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D014019:Tissue Donors / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence