This guide is intended to help answer some of the questions you may have when a loved one dies.
Most people believe death occurs when a person's heartbeat and breathing stop.
By law, the state of Missouri recognizes that death also occurs when the brain and brainstem stop working. If breathing and heartbeat are maintained by machines, a brain dead person will appear to be alive. But, if there is no brain activity, the person is dead. Brain death is harder. Certain things must happen before a person can be declared brain dead.