Life or death: where should the line be drawn?
Under present law, two criteria are used to declare a person dead: (1) permanent cessation of cardiopulmonary function or (2) if cardiopulmonary activity has been artificially sustained, irreversible absence of all brain activity. This article focuses on the factors that must be taken into account if states consider modifying their legal definitions of death to include patients with partial/lack of brain activity. Factors suggest that such modification is premature and unwarranted at the present time. Accordingly, states' determination of death statutes which mandate a diagnosis of total brain death should remain intact. In the interim, states should consider North Carolina's Natural Death Act.
D001926:Brain Death; D003128:Coma; D006801:Humans; D007883:Legislation, Medical; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009657:North Carolina; D014481:United States