The irreversibility of death: reply to Cole.
Professor Cole is correct in his conclusion that the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) protocol does not violate requirements of "irreversibility" in criteria of death, but wrong about the reasons. "Irreversible" in this context is best understood not as an ontological or epistemic term, but as an ethical one. Understood that way, the patient declared dead under the protocol is "irreversibly" so, even though resuscitation by medical means is still possible. Nonetheless, the protocol revives difficult questions about our concept of death.
Center for Ethics and Humanities in the Life Sciences, Michigan State University.
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D001926:Brain Death; D003643:Death; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D018594:Human Body; D006801:Humans; D010414:Pennsylvania; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States; D028761:Withholding Treatment