title: Determination of Death: A Discussion on Responsible Scholarship, Clinical Practices, and Public Engagement.
abstract: The concept and determination of death by neurological or cardio-circulatory criteria play a crucial role for medical practice, society, and the law. Academic debates on death determination have regained momentum, and recent cases involving the neurological determination of death ("brain death") in the United States have sparked sustained public debate. The determination of death by neurological criterion (irreversible cessation of the whole brain or of the brain stem) is medically practiced in at least 80 countries. However, academic debates persist about the conceptual and scientific validity of death determined by neurological criterion. The cardio-circulatory criterion, which permits organ donation following cardio-circulatory arrest, has also recently been challenged. Given the presence of academic debates, several questions ensue about the responsible conduct of clinicians and scholars involved in clinical practices and academic research. This article identifies tension points for responsible practices in the domains of scholarship, clinical practice, and public discourse and formulates suggestions to stimulate further dialogue on responsible practices and to identify questions in need of further research.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Racine
authors.forename: Ralf J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jox
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bernat
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dabrock
authors.forename: Dale
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marckmann
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rid
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Arias
authors.forename: Rgen In
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Schmitten
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schöne-Seifert
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000941:ethics*; D001926:Brain Death / Q000503:physiopathology; D003643:Death; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D011639:Public Opinion; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement / Q000941:ethics; D014481:United States