Brain death. I. A status report of medical and ethical considerations
F. J. Veith, J. M. Fein, M. D. Tendler, R. M. Veatch, M. A. Kleiman and G. Kalkines
Use of neurologic criteria to pronounce death, although accepted by many,
has caused controversy among physicians, lawyers, legislators,
philosophers, and theologians. The present work attempts to resolve this by
accomplishing four objectives. (1) It summarizes scientific information
that establishes the ability to determine the state of brain death with
certainty on the basis of presently available clinical and laboratory
criteria. (2) It shows that the concept of brain death is in accord with
secular philosophy and the three major Western religions. (3) It documents
the need for legislative recognition that death may be pronounced on the
basis of neurologic criteria. (4) It reviews the present status of judicial
and statutory law relating to the determination of death in the United
States.
