The Determination of Death
Authors: JOANNE LYNN
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1983)

Editorials1 August 1983The Determination of DeathJOANNE LYNN, M. D.JOANNE LYNN, M. D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-99-2-264 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptAll living things will die. One would think there would have been enough experience of the phenomenon to make clear what marks the change from being alive to being dead. But the wealth of experience also serves to uncover numerous difficult cases in which our ordinary perceptions and imprecise categories are challenged. The article by Youngner and Bartlett (1) in this issue continues the ancient inquiry into the nature of life and death.Large numbers of difficult cases arose in the past few decades along with the technological ability to mechanically ventilate patients who could not otherwise breathe. Until now,...References1. YOUNGNERBARTLETT SE. Human death and high technology: the failure of the whole brain formulations. Ann Intern Med. 1983;99:252-8. LinkGoogle Scholar2. VEATCH R. Death, Dying, and the Biological Revolution: Our Last Quest for Responsibility. New Haven: Yale University Press; 1976. Google Scholar3. CRANFORD R. Minnesota Medical Association criteria: brain death, concept and criteria. Minn Med. 1978;61:561-3. MedlineGoogle Scholar4. . A definition of irreversible coma. JAMA. 1968;205:337-40. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. POWNERSNYDERGRENVIK DJA. Brain death certification: a review. Crit Care Med. 1977;5:230-3. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. KOREIN J, ed. Brain death: interrelated medical and social issues. Ann NY Acad Sci. 1978;315:1-441. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. An appraisal of the criteria of cerebral death; a summary statement; a collaborative study. JAMA. 1977;237:982-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. . Defining Death: Medical, Legal, and Ethical Issues in the Determination of Death. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office; 1981. Google Scholar9. . Deciding to Forego Life-Sustaining Treatment. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office; 1983:171-96. Google Scholar10. In re Quinlan: 70: N. J., 355A. 2d. 647, cert, denied 429 U.S. 922, (1976). Google Scholar11. GREENWIKLER MD. Brain death and personal identity. Philosophy Public Affairs. 1980;9:105-33. MedlineGoogle Scholar12. ROSENBERGJOHNSONBRENNER GSR. Recovery of cognition after prolonged vegetative state. Ann Neurol. 1977;2:167-8. CrossrefGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: George Washington University Washington, D.C. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByWhen the Patient Dies: A Survey of Medical Housestaff about Care after DeathNeocortical Death and Human DeathBrain Death and the LawBrain Death Historical Perspectives and Current ConcernsPerson Perception and the Death of the Person: A New Role for Health Professionals in Cases of Brain DeathBibliographical IndexBrain-Death 1 August 1983Volume 99, Issue 2Page: 264-266KeywordsPerception Issue Published: 1 August 1983 PDF DownloadLoading ...