title: A modern definition of death?
abstract: Throughout the ages, man has struggled to define exactly when death takes place. Common law dictated that the presence or absence of a heartbeat indicated whether or not a person was alive. In more recent years, this definition has changed to include brain activity as an important criterion. However, legislation resulting from this changed definition has only brought about more questions--such as what criteria shall be used to decide brain death.
mesh_terms: D033421:Beginning of Human Life; D001926:Brain Death; D003643:Death; D004989:Ethics; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007603:Jurisprudence; D007878:Legislation as Topic; D019369:Life; D009014:Morals; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D014481:United States