Rethinking Brain Death-Why Dead Enough Is Not Good Enough The UDDA Revision Series

Editorial Material Medicine, General & Internal

The Uncertain Future of the Determination of Brain Death

Robert D. D. Truog

Summary: This Viewpoint discusses the proposals considered by the Uniform Law Commission for revising the Uniform Determination of Death Act and presents the pros and cons of each proposal.

JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (2023)

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Article History & Philosophy Of Science

The Demise of Brain Death

Lukas J. Meier

Summary: This article presents two objections against the concept of brain death as a criterion of death. Firstly, it draws parallels between brain death and other pathological conditions, questioning whether the loss or replacement of a certain function in these conditions should also be tolerated in brain death. Secondly, it highlights the problem faced by the neurological criterion as life-supporting technology advances, namely the decoupling of actual vital function performance from neurological control.

BRITISH JOURNAL FOR THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE (2022)

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Article Clinical Neurology

Revise the Uniform Determination of Death Act to Align the Law With Practice Through Neurorespiratory Criteria

Adam Omelianchuk et al.

Summary: The Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA) has been a model statute for 40 years, but there is a growing recognition that it needs to be updated, especially in terms of aligning the legal criteria for determining death with the medical standards. This article argues for revising the UDDA to specify neurorespiratory criteria, which include permanent loss of consciousness, ability to breathe spontaneously, and brainstem reflexes, as the criteria for determining death.

NEUROLOGY (2022)

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Article Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems

Early Outcomes of Heart Transplantation Using Donation After Circulatory Death Donors in the United States

Jennie H. Kwon et al.

Summary: Heart transplantation using donation after circulatory death (DCD) is becoming more common in the United States. The outcomes of DCD heart transplantation are comparable to those of donation after brain death, indicating that this practice is safe and feasible. The study encourages broader utilization of DCD heart transplantation.

CIRCULATION-HEART FAILURE (2022)

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Article Medicine, General & Internal

Implementation of Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) and Computed Tomography Perfusion (CTP) in Polish Guidelines for Determination of Cerebral Circulatory Arrest (CCA) during Brain Death/Death by Neurological Criteria (BD/DNC) Diagnosis Procedure

Romuald Bohatyrewicz et al.

Summary: The research suggests that CTA and CTP can be effective tests for confirming CCA in BD/DNC diagnoses, with potential to be recommended as the preferred ancillary tests in future international guidelines.

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE (2021)

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Editorial Material Medicine, General & Internal