Biomaterial Database

[The definition of death and organ retrieval: a persisting philosophical controversy]. 2014

P Kinnaert

Since the publication of the recommendations of the ad hoc committee of the Harvard Medical School to examine the definition of brain death in 1968, philosophical discussions concerning the licit character of organ retrieval in brain dead patients never ceased. The present paper summarizes the main arguments of supporters and opponents of this procedure.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D001921	Brain	The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM.	Encephalon
D001926	Brain Death	A state of prolonged irreversible cessation of all brain activity, including lower brain stem function with the complete absence of voluntary movements, responses to stimuli, brain stem reflexes, and spontaneous respirations. Reversible conditions which mimic this clinical state (e.g., sedative overdose, hypothermia, etc.) are excluded prior to making the determination of brain death. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp348-9)	Brain Dead,Coma Depasse,Irreversible Coma,Brain Deads,Coma, Irreversible,Death, Brain
D003643	Death	Irreversible cessation of all bodily functions, manifested by absence of spontaneous breathing and total loss of cardiovascular and cerebral functions.	End Of Life,End-Of-Life,Near-Death Experience,Cardiac Death,Determination of Death,Death, Cardiac
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014019	Tissue Donors	Individuals supplying living tissue, organs, cells, blood or blood components for transfer or transplantation to histocompatible recipients.	Organ Donors,Donors,Ovum Donors,Semen Donors,Transplant Donors,Donor,Donor, Organ,Donor, Ovum,Donor, Semen,Donor, Tissue,Donor, Transplant,Donors, Organ,Donors, Ovum,Donors, Semen,Donors, Tissue,Donors, Transplant,Organ Donor,Ovum Donor,Semen Donor,Tissue Donor,Transplant Donor
D020858	Tissue and Organ Harvesting	The procedure of removing TISSUES, organs, or specimens from DONORS for reuse, such as TRANSPLANTATION.	Organ Harvesting,Organ Retrieval,Tissue Harvesting,Organ Harvestings,Organ Retrievals,Retrieval, Organ,Retrievals, Organ
D034462	Dissent and Disputes	Differences of opinion or disagreements that may arise, for example, between health professionals and patients or their families, or against a political regime.	Dispute,Dissent And Dispute,Disputes,Dissent,Political Dissent,Professional-Family Disagreement,Professional-Patient Disagreement,And Dispute, Dissent,And Disputes, Dissent,Disagreement, Professional-Family,Disagreement, Professional-Patient,Disagreements, Professional-Family,Disagreements, Professional-Patient,Dispute, Dissent And,Disputes and Dissent,Disputes, Dissent And,Dissent, Political,Professional Family Disagreement,Professional Patient Disagreement,Professional-Family Disagreements,Professional-Patient Disagreements