title: The neurologist and Harvard criteria for brain death.
abstract: The Harvard ad hoc committee to examine the definition of brain death, chaired by anesthesiologist Beecher, published their report in 1968. Throughout the years, the committee has been a target of criticism. However, the workings of the ad hoc committee have not been carefully evaluated, and could provide insight into the role of the neurologists and their interaction with contemporaries. Review of the original files and interviews with three surviving members-Adams, Potter, and Murray-revealed 1) a major role and original contributions of the neurologists Schwab and Adams in defining criteria, and 2) a swift and decisive working committee that formulated a document aimed at simplicity and accuracy, and without special interest.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and the Neurological-Neurosurgical Intensive Care Unit, Saint Marys Hospital, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. wijde@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Eelco F M
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Wijdicks
mesh_terms: D026683:Advisory Committees / Q000266:history*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001900:Boston; D001926:Brain Death / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D009462:Neurology / Q000266:history* / Q000379:methods