title: Brain death--a review of the concept.
abstract: The early origins of the concept of brain death have been retraced. Using practical examples from clinical experience it has been demonstrated that conventionally, cardiac death is always accompanied by brain death. Cardiac death implies brain death. The two are inseparably linked or coupled. Death on a ventilator uncouples the two, revealing death of the brain as the true determinant of the cessation of a person's life and the heartbeat as a false measure.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D016223:Advance Directives; D001926:Brain Death / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003128:Coma / Q000175:diagnosis; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000266:history; D005602:France; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000266:history; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000266:history; D014481:United States