title: Donation after brain circulation determination of death.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The fundamental determinant of death in donation after circulatory determination of death is the cessation of brain circulation and function. We therefore propose the term donation after brain circulation determination of death [DBCDD].
  
  
  RESULTS
  In DBCDD, death is determined when the cessation of circulatory function is permanent but before it is irreversible, consistent with medical standards of death determination outside the context of organ donation. Safeguards to prevent error include that: 1] the possibility of auto-resuscitation has elapsed; 2] no brain circulation may resume after the determination of death; 3] complete circulatory cessation is verified; and 4] the cessation of brain function is permanent and complete. Death should be determined by the confirmation of the cessation of systemic circulation; the use of brain death tests is invalid and unnecessary. Because this concept differs from current standards, consensus should be sought among stakeholders. The patient or surrogate should provide informed consent for organ donation by understanding the basis of the declaration of death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In cases of circulatory cessation, such as occurs in DBCDD, death can be defined as the permanent cessation of brain functions, determined by the permanent cessation of brain circulation.
authors.affiliation: Ethics Unit, University hospital of Lausanne, Rue du Bugnon 21, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland. Anne.Dalle-Ave@chuv.ch.
authors.forename: Anne L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Dalle Ave
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, 03756, USA.
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bernat
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D001926:Brain Death; D003643:Death; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D012151:Resuscitation; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014019:Tissue Donors; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement
keywords: Brain criterion of death; Determination of death; Donation after circulatory determination of death [DCDD]; Ethics; Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation [ECMO]; Transplantation