How to determine death?
Death can be determined using different criteria. The neurological criterion, which involves the irreversible cessation of the whole brain or brain stem, is practiced in at least 80 countries . Another method is the cardio-circulatory criterion, which allows for organ donation following cardio-circulatory arrest . The gold standard method for death time estimation is the nomogram method based on the two-exponential model of body cooling . However, recent developments have focused on increasing the accuracy of death time estimation by considering various influencing factors . The brain-as-a-whole criterion has been proposed as an alternative to the whole-brain criterion, but it is still in the early developmental stage . Integrated and coordinated biologic activities, as well as the persistence of any form of brain function or autonomous integration of vital functions, can be used as criteria to determine if a human being is alive . Computed tomography perfusion (CTP) has been suggested as a technique to determine brain death by focusing on brainstem function .
Answers from top 5 papers
Papers (5) | Insight |
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The paper discusses the need for a valid test to determine the chances of survival of a patient at the time of presentation. It suggests that imaging of the brainstem is vital for determining when death has occurred. The technique of computed tomography perfusion (CTP) is proposed as a way to determine brain death and brainstem death. | |
49 Citations | The paper discusses the challenge of determining death and proposes two criteria: the persistence of any form of brain function or the persistence of autonomous integration of vital functions. |
The paper discusses the concept of determining death based on the permanent cessation of the human organism-as-a-whole, specifically focusing on the brain criterion of death. It suggests that the current whole-brain criterion could be changed to a brain-as-a-whole criterion, but further analysis is needed. The paper also mentions the noncongruence between the biological concept of death as irreversible and the medical practice of determining death when vital functions have permanently ceased but not irreversibly. However, it does not provide a specific method for determining death. | |
123 Citations | The paper discusses various methods for determining the time of death, including the use of a nomogram method based on body cooling, examination of skeletal muscle excitability, and consideration of influencing factors such as preexisting diseases and ambient temperature. However, the paper does not provide specific information on how to determine death itself. |
6 Citations | The paper discusses the determination of death by neurological or cardio-circulatory criteria, but does not provide a specific answer on how to determine death. |