Main description:

This book presents principal controversies over the determination of death by neurologic criteria ("brain death"). The editors and authors are exceedingly well-versed in this subject and are on the forefront of the current debates. The content is divided in the following disciplinary: philosophical (conceptual), medical, scientific, legal, religious, and ethical/social. Many of the topics feature pro-con debates, allowing readers to consider the merits of the arguments and decide their own position. The work is targeted to clinicians and nurses who treat critically ill and dying patients, organ donation personnel, ethicists and philosophers who write on end-of-life issues, and lawyers and legislative/public policy professionals who draft laws on death determination. It identifies and debates the essential controversies currently raging in academic and public policy circles over the medical adequacy, scientific validity, and conceptual coherence of death determination by neurologic criteria. Whether a professional or a student, the reader will be given a comprehensive course in the most pressing controversies and areas of consensus in the determination of death by neurologic criteria.

Contents:

1. Historical Introduction, James Bernat and Ariane Lewis
Conceptual Issues2. Arguments Supporting Neurologic Criteria to Determine Death3. Arguments Rejecting Neurologic Criteria to Determine Death4. Arguments Supporting the Whole-Brain Criterion5. Arguments Supporting the Brainstem Criterion6. What Provisions Belong in a Statute on Determination of Death by Neurologic Criteria?7. Preserved Hypothalamic Function is Not Consistent with the Whole-Brain Criterion for Death8. Preserved Hypothalamic Function Does Not Preclude Determination of Death by Neurologic Criteria 9. Does Death Determination by Neurologic Criteria Require Irreversible or Permanent Cessation of Brain Functions?
Medical Issues10. Intra/International Variability in the Determination of Death by Neurologic Criteria11. Overcoming Challenges in the Determination of Death by Neurologic Criteria in Pediatric Patients12. Arguments in Favor of Requiring the Absence of Brain Circulation to Determine Death by Neurologic Criteria13. Arguments Opposing the Requirement to Demonstrate Absence of Brain Circulation to Determine Death by Neurologic Criteria 14. Reports of "Recovery" from Death by Neurologic Criteria15. Observation Time Prior to Determination of Death by Neurologic Criteria16. Temperature Considerations in the Determination of Death by Neurologic Criteria17. How Many Evaluations are Required to Determine Death by Neurologic Criteria?
Scientific Issues18. Research Questions to Inform the Determination of Death by Neurologic Criteria19. Research on the Newly Deceased Following Declaration of Death by Neurologic Criteria
Legal Issues20. U.S. State Laws on the Determination of Death by Neurologic Criteria21. Is Consent Required for Clinicians to Make a Determination of Death by Neurologic Criteria?22. Legal Response to Religious and Other Objections to Declaration of Death by Neurologic Criteria 23. Is Death by Neurologic Criteria a Legal Fiction or Status?24. Legal Considerations on the Declaration of Death by Neurologic Criteria in the Pregnant Patient
Religious Issues25. Christian Perspectives on Death by Neurologic Criteria26. Islamic Perspectives on Death by Neurologic Criteria27. Jewish Perspectives on Death by Neurologic Criteria
Ethical and Social Issues28. Public Views on Death by Neurologic Criteria29. Cultural Considerations in the Declaration of Death by Neurologic Criteria in Asia30. Cultural Considerations in the Declaration of Death by Neurologic Criteria in Africa31. The Argument for Personal Choice in Determining Death32. The Distinction Between Determination of Death by Neurologic Criteria and Declaration of Death33. Why Families Object to Declaration of Death by Neurologic Criteria34. Arguments Favoring Continuation of "Organ Support" when Families Object to Declaration of Death by Neurologic Criteria35. Arguments Opposing Continuation of Organ Support when Families Object to Declaration of Death by Neurologic Criteria