Can brain death be equated with human death?

Can brain death be equated with human death?

The majority of the German Ethics Council is of the opinion that brain death is a sure sign of death and that the donation of vital organs may only be permitted if the death of the possible organ donor has been determined (dead donor rule).

Can you cure brain death?

With the right treatment, brain dead people could recover completely. In 1998, the neurologist Alan Shewmon published his study of 175 brain dead patients who continued to be treated in intensive care after they were found to be brain dead.

Is organ donation ethical?

A well-founded equation of brain death and death is central to the ethical legitimacy of organ donation and its legal regulation because organ removal (except for so-called living donation) is only permitted in Germany from the dead (the so-called “dead donor rule”).

What if you are brain dead?

With the irreversible loss of all brain functions (brain death), the death of the human has occurred. Brain death is inevitably followed by cardiac arrest and the failure of all other organs.

How long can you live after brain death?

As long as the intensive care is in place and the doctors are artificially maintaining circulation and breathing, a brain-dead person looks as if he were still alive: his chest rises and falls due to the artificial respiration, the skin is pink and warm, the kidneys are still excreting urine out, and even wounds…

Can you wake up from brain dead?

But a brain dead person can never wake up. Blood no longer circulates in his brain, the nerve cells in the cerebrum, cerebellum and brainstem have died due to the lack of oxygen. The neurons can no longer fire, and there are no reflexes either.

Can you survive brain death?

In any case, one thing is certain: If the irreversible loss of brain function is determined according to the guidelines, there is no way back to life.

How fast does the brain die?

After 2-3 minutes, the first cells are damaged, first in the cerebral cortex, then in the brainstem, which regulates blood circulation and respiration. After 5 minutes, the brain is irreparably damaged, so that a person can only continue living in a coma. A person is clinically dead after 10 minutes without oxygen.

How can you tell if a person is brain dead?

“A person is dead when the function of the entire brain (= cerebrum, cerebellum and brainstem) has irreversibly failed.

How many doctors have to diagnose brain death?

Brain death must always be diagnosed by two experienced doctors independently of one another.

Why does the heart keep beating when you’re brain dead?

Why is it possible for the heart to continue beating in a brain dead person? The patient was put on a ventilator to help him breathe. After that, brain death has occurred, the brainstem has died. The heart continues to beat as it receives oxygen from the ventilator.

Why organ donation only after brain death?

For an organ donation, it is crucial that the irreversible failure of all brain functions (brain death) has occurred, i.e. the person concerned has died. At the same time, the cardiovascular system still has to be maintained artificially so that the organs are supplied with oxygen and nutrients.

Who decides on organ donation?

If the patient has not made a decision for or against an organ donation (§ 3 TPG), the next of kin are required to make a decision in favor of the deceased. The (presumed) will of the deceased is decisive for the relatives, not their personal opinion on organ donation.

What happens to the body after organ donation?

After the organ removal, the donor is no longer ventilated. If a deceased person who died of brain death consented to the organ donation while he was still alive or if his relatives did this for him after his death, he will be artificially ventilated until the removal operation.

Who Cannot Donate Organs?

Certain diseases such as infectious diseases or diabetes can limit the ability to donate, but do not rule it out completely. Even someone with a chronic illness can become an organ donor after brain death.

What pre-existing conditions rule out organ donation?

Which pre-existing conditions generally rule out organ donation? For example, an organ donation may not be possible in the case of certain infections or acute cancer diseases. For all other diseases, the doctors decide whether an organ donation is an option based on the findings.

Can I decide who gets my organs?

Can I decide who gets my organs after death? You cannot specify who will be the recipient of your organs or tissues – nor can you exclude people as recipients.