title: A Response to the Legitimacy of Brain Death in Islam.
abstract: Brain death is a novel construct of death for the procurement of transplantable organs. Many authoritative Islamic organizations and governments have endorsed brain death as true death for organ donation. Many commentators have reiterated the misconception that the Quranic text does not define death. We respond by clarifying: (1) the Quran does define death as biologic disintegration and clearly distinguishes it from the dying process, (2) brain death belongs scientifically within the spectrum of neurologic disorders of consciousness and should not be confused with death, and (3) religious and legal discord about brain death has grown in jurisdictions worldwide. We urge for public transparency and truthfulness about brain death and the accommodation and respect of religious objection to the determination of death by neurologic criteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care, Mayo Clinic Hospital, 5777 East Mayo Boulevard, Phoenix, AZ, 85054, USA. rady.mohamed@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Mohamed Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Rady
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, 13400 E Shea Blvd, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Verheijde
mesh_terms: D001926:Brain Death / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
keywords: Brain death; Fatwas; Islam; Law; Moral code; Neuroscience; Organ donation; Quran; Religion