title: Brain death, murder and the law.
abstract: The withdrawal of all nourishment and hydration from a patient who had suffered severe brain damage as a result of a cardiorespiratory arrest was recently held by a Californian court of appeal not to constitute an unlawful killing. The possible implications of this decision, both at common law and under the various criminal codes in Australia, are considered.
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D002140:California; D003128:Coma / Q000628:therapy*; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008297:Male