Brain death revisited: The case for a national standard

Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics

Volumn 36, Issue 4, 2008, Pages 824-836

  Choi, Eun Kyoung ^a   Fredland, Valita ^b   Zachodni, Carla ^c   Lammers, J Eugene ^d,e,f   Bledsoe, Patricia ^d   Helft, Paul R ^a,f  

^a Charles Warren Fairbanks Center for Medical Ethics   (United States)

^b Clarian Pathology   (United States)

^c Academic Affairs   (United States)

^d Indiana University ^*

^e Clarian Health   (United States)

^f INDIANA UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

ARTICLE; BRAIN DEATH; FEMALE; HUMAN; LEGAL ASPECT; MALE; ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION; PATHOPHYSIOLOGY; PRACTICE GUIDELINE; STANDARD; UNITED STATES;

BRAIN DEATH; FEMALE; HUMANS; MALE; ORGAN TRANSPLANTATION; PRACTICE GUIDELINES AS TOPIC; UNITED STATES;

EID: 57349165417     PISSN: 10731105     EISSN: 1748720X     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1748-720X.2008.00340.x     Document Type: Article

References (174)

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8. See Wijdicks (Clinical Criteria), supra note 2, at 540; Wijdicks, (Brain Death Worldwide), supra note 2, at 23 M. Y. Wang, P. Wallace, and P. J. Gruen Brain Death Documentation: Analysis and Issues Neurosurgery 51, no. 3 (2002 731 736, at 732-3; Alabama: Ala. Code 1975 § 22-31-1 (2000); Alaska: Alaska Stat. § 09.68.120 (West 1995); Arizona: State v. Fierro, 603 P.2d 74 (Ariz. 1979); Arkansas: Ark. Code. Ann. § 20-17-101 (West 1985); California: Cal. Health & Safety Code § 7180 (West 1982); Colorado: Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 12-36-136 (West 1981); Connecticut: Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 19a-279h (West 1988); Delaware: 24 Del. C. § 1760 (West 2005); District of Columbia: D.C. Code § 7-601 (1982); Florida: Fla. Stat. Ann. § 382.009 (West 1987); Georgia: Ga. Code Ann., § 31-10-16 (West 1992); Hawaii: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 327C-1 (West 1998); Idaho: Idaho Code § 54-1819 (West 1981); Illinois: 755 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. 50/1-10 (West 2004); Indiana: Ind. Code Ann. 1-1-4-3 (West 1986); Iowa: Iowa Code Ann. § 702.8 (West 2001); Kansas: Kan. Stat. Ann. § 77-205 (West 1984); Kentucky: Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 446.400 (West 1986); Louisiana: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. 9:111 (2001); Maine: Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 22, § 2811 (1983); Massachusetts: Commonwealth v. Golston, 366 N.E.2d 744; Maryland: MD. Code Ann., Code, Health - Gen. § 5-202 (West 1998); Michigan: Mich. Comp. Laws. Ann. § 333.1033 (West 1992); Minnesota: Minn. Stat. Ann. § 145.135 (West 1989); Mississippi: Miss. Code Ann. § 41-36-3 (West 1981); Missouri: Mo. Ann. Stat. § 194.005 (West 1982); Montana: Mont. Code Ann. § 50-22-101 (1983); Nebraska: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 71-7202 (1992); Nevada: Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 451.007 (West 1985); New Hampshire: N. H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 141-D:2 (1987); New Jersey: N.J. Stat. Ann. § 26:6A-3 (West 1991); New Mexico: N.M. Stat. Ann. § 12-2-4 (West 2007): New York: N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 10, § 400.16 (1987); North Carolina: N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 90-323 (West 1979); North Dakota: N.D. Cent. Code § 23-06.3-01 (West 1989); Ohio: Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2108.30 (West 1981); Oklahoma: Okla. Stat. Ann. tit. 63, § 3122 (West 1986); Oregon: OR. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 432.300 (West 1997); Pennsylvania: 35 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 10203 (West 1982); Rhode Island: R.I. Gen. Laws 1956, § 23-4-16 (1982); South Carolina: S.C. Code Ann. § 44-43-460 (2006); South Dakota: S.D. Codified Laws § 34-25-18.1(1990); Tennessee: Tenn. Code Ann. § 68-3-501 (West 1982); Texas: Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 671.001 (Vernon 1995); Utah: Utah. Code Ann. § 26-34-2 (West 2007); Vermont: Vt. Stat. Ann. tit. 18, § 5218 (West 1981); Virginia: Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2972 (West 2004); Washington: In re Welfare of Bowman, 617 P. 2d 731 (Wash. 1980); West Virginia: W.Va. Code Ann. § 16-10-1 (West 1989); Wisconsin: Wis. Stat. Ann. § 146.71 (Wet 1982); Wyoming: Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 35-19-101 (1985) [hereafter State's statute and cases, State statutes if only referring to the statutes, State cases if only referring to the cases].
9. R. E. Mejia and M. M. Pollack Variability in Brain Death Determination Practices in Children JAMA 274, no. 7 (1995 550 553, at 551-552
10. S. J. Youngner, C. S. Landefeld, and C. J. Coulton, B. W. Juknialis, and M. Leary 'Brain Death' and Organ Retrieval: A Cross-sectional Survey of Knowledge and Concepts among Health Professionals JAMA 261, no. 15 (1989 2205 2210, at 2208-2209;
11. see Wang et al., supra note 3, at 732-733.
12. S. Jeffrey Brain Death Guidelines Vary Widely at Top US Neurological Hospitals available at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/564125 (last visited October 6, 2008); see Youngner et al., supra note 4, at 2208-2209.
13. See Baron et al., supra note 1, at 607.
14. Id.
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22. In re Quinlan, 355 A.2d 647 (N. J. 1976).
23. See Halevy and Brody, supra note 1, at 519.
24. Smith v. Smith, 317 S.W.2d 275 (Ark. 1958).
25. R. D. Truog and W. M. Robinson Role of Brain Death and The Dead-Donor Rule in the Ethics of Organ Transplantation Critical Care Medicine 31, no. 9 (2003 2391 2396, at 2391.
26. Id.
27. See Randell, supra note 1, at 140.
28. Id.
29. See State statutes and cases, supra note 3.
30. See Wang et al., supra note 3 at 732.
31. Uniform Determination of Death Act 1980, prefatory note. (West 1980).
32. Uniform Determination of Death Act 1980. (West 1980).
33. See Wang et al., supra note 3, at 732.
34. See State's statutes, supra note 3.
35. See State's cases, supra note 3.
36. E. F. M. Wijdicks The Diagnosis of Brain Death New England Journal of Medicine 344, no. 16 (2001 1215 1221, at 1215.
37. The Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology Practice Parameters for Determining Brain Death in Adults Neurology 45, no. 5 (1995 1012 1014 [hereafter Quality Standards Subcommittee].
38. See Wijdicks, supra note 29, at 1216.
39. See Wijdicks, Clinical Criteria, supra note 2, at 540.
40. D. A. Shewmom Chronic 'Brain Death': Meta-analysis and Conceptiual Consequences Neurology 51 (1998 1538 1545
41. A. Halevy and B. Brody Brain Death: Reconciling Definitions, Criteria, and Tests Annals of Internal Medicine 119 (1993 519 255
42. R. D. Truog Is It Time to Abandon Brain Death Hastings Center Report 27, no. 1 (1997 29 37.
43. W. Chiong Brain Death without Definitions Hastings Center Report 35, no. 6 (2005 20 30.
44. See Randell, supra note 1, at 140.
45. See Baron et al., supra note 1, at 603.
46. See Wijdicks, supra note 29, at 1215.
47. Id.
48. See Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 32.
49. Id.
50. See Wijdicks, supra note 29.
51. Id.
52. Id., at 1216.
53. See Mejia and Pollack, supra note 4, at 550.
54. See Randell, supra note 1, at 142; Mejia and Pollack, supra note 4, at 550.
55. See Mejia and Pollack, supra note 4, at 550.
56. See Randell, supra note 1, at 140; Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 32, at 1012 Canadian Neurocritical Care Group Guidelines for The Diagnosis for Brain Death Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences 26, no. 1 (1999 64 66, at 64.
57. See Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 31, at 1012-1013;Canadian Neurocritical Care Group, supra note 46, at 65.
58. See Wijdicks, supra note 29, at 1220; Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 32, at 1013.
59. Id.
60. See State's statutes, supra note 3.
61. See Wijdicks, Clinical Criteria, supra note 2, at 540 Wijdicks (Brain Death Worldwide), supra note 2, at 23 Powner et al., supra note 2, at 1285 Mejia and Pollack, supra note 4, at 551 Wang et al., supra note 3, at 732-733 Jeffrey, supra note 5, at 1 M. Y. Chang, L. A. McBride, and M. A. Ferguson Variability in Brain Death Declaration Practices in Pediatric Head Trauma Patients Pediatric Neurosurgery 39 (2003 7 9, at 9.
62. See Wijdicks (Brain Death Worldwide), supra note 2, at 21.
63. See State's statutes, supra note 3.
64. Id.
65. Fla. Stat. Ann. § 382.009 (West 1987).
66. N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 10, § 400.16 (e)(3) (1987); Matter of Long Island Jewish Medical Center, 641 N.Y.S.2d 989 (N.Y. App. Div. 1996); Matter of Conroy, 486 A.2d 1209 (N.J. 1985).
67. Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2972 (West 2004).
68. Alaska Stat. § 09.68.120 (West 1995); Ga. Code Ann., § 31-10-16 (West 1992); Mich. Comp. Laws. Ann. § 333.1033 (West 1992).
69. Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 19a-279h (West 1988); Fla. Stat. Ann. § 382.009 (West 1987); Iowa Code Ann. § 702.8 (West 2001); Kentucky: Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 446.400 (West 1986); Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2972 (West 2004).
70. Fla. Stat. Ann. § 382.009 (West 1987).
71. Va. Code Ann. § 54.1-2972 (West 2004).
72. Lovato v. Dist.Court of Tenth Judicial Dist, 601 P.2d 1072 (Colo. 1979); Dority v. Superior Court, 145 Cal. App. 3d 273 (Cal. Ct. App. 1983); In Re Haymer, 450 N.E.2d 940 (Ill. App. Ct. 1983).
73. A. M. Capron Brain Death: Well Settled Yet Still Unresolved New England Journal of Medicine 344, no. 16 (2001 1244 1246, at 1244-1245 ("The term 'brain death' has become so familiar that it is not likely to be replaced by a more precise and less confusing term, such as 'brain-based determination of death.' Nonetheless, physicians who rely on diagnostic criteria of the sort set forth by Wijdicks ought to recognize that the language they use not only reflects but also sows confusion. Since 'brain dead' patients show such traditional signs of life warn, moist skin, a pulse, and breathing, it is not surprising that many people seem to think that 'brain dead' is a separate type of death that occurs before 'real' death. This confusion is reinforced when hospital personnel state - and journalists repeat - that 'life support' is being removed from such patients.").
74. Dority, 145 Cal. App. 3d at 279.
75. N.J. Statues Ann. 52 : 17B 88. 1 through 88.6; N.Y. Public Health Law 4210-c(1) et seq.
76. See Wang et al., supra note 3, at 732-733 Mejia and Pollack, supra note 4, at 551-552 Youngner et al., supra note 4, at 2208-2209 R. Burck, L. Anderson-Shaw, M. Sheldon, and E. A. Egan The Clinical Response to Brain Death: A Policy Proposal JONA's Healthcare Law, Ethics, and Regulation 8, no. 2 (2006 53 59, at 55.
77. See Youngner et al., supra note 4 at 2208.
78. See Halevy and Brody, supra note 1, at 520-521 T. A. Ala A Case Meeting Clinical Brain Death Criteria with Residual Cerebral Perfusion American Journal of Neuroradiology 27 (2006 1805 1806, at 1805
79. G. Saposnik, J. A. Bueri, J. Maurino, R. Saizar, and N. S. Garretto Spontaneous and Reflex Movements in Brain Death Neurology 54 (2000 221 224, at 221.
80. See Ala, supra note 69, at 1806, 1882 Saposnik et al., supra note 69, at 221.
81. Id.
82. See Saposnik et al., supra note 69, at 222.
83. Id.
84. Id.
85. G. Saposnik, J. Maurino, and J. Bueri Movements in Brain Death European Journal of Neurology 8 (2001 209 213, at 209.
86. See Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 30, at 1013 Saposnik et al., supra note 75, at 212.
87. See Halevy and Brody, supra note 1, at 520.
88. P. M. Black and N. T. Zervas Declaration of Brain Death in Neurosurgical and Neurological Practice Neurosurgery 15 (1984 170 174, at 170.
89. Id.
90. Id.
91. Id., at 171.
92. Id., at 171-172.
93. Id., at 172.
94. Id., at 173.
95. Id., at 171.
96. Id.
97. Id.
98. See Wijdicks (Brain Death Worldwide), supra note 2, at 23 Powner et al., supra note 2, at 1285 Mejia and Pollack, supra note 4, at 551 Wang et al., supra note 3, at 732-733 Jeffrey, supra note 5, at 1 Chang et al., supra note 52, at 79.
99. See Powner et al, supra note 2, at 1284.
100. Id., at 1285.
101. See Powner et al, supra note 2, at 1285 Mejia and Pollack, supra note 4, at 551 Jeffrey, supra note 5, at 1.
102. See Wang et al., supra note 3, at 732-733.
103. See Powner et al, supra note 2, at 1284-1285.
104. Id., at 1285.
105. Id., at 1285-1287.
106. Id.
107. Id., at 1285.
108. Id.
109. Id.
110. Id.
111. Id.
112. Id., at 1285-1287.
113. Id., at 1285.
114. Id., at 1286.
115. Id.
116. Id.
117. Id.
118. Id.
119. Id., at 1287.
120. Id.
121. See Jeffrey, supra note 5, at 1.
122. Id.
123. Id., at 1-2.
124. See Wang et al., supra note 3, at 732.
125. Id., at 732-733.
126. Id., at 734.
127. Id.
128. See Mejia and Pollack, supra note 4, at 550-552.
129. Id., at 551-552.
130. Id.
131. See Chang et al., supra note 52, at 8.
132. S. M. Izac Quality Assurance in Determinations of Brain Death American Journal of Electroneurodiagnostic Technology 44, no. 3 (2004 159 171, at 161.
133. See Lazar et al., supra note 12, at 834.
134. Janus v. Metro. Life Ins. Co., 482 N.E.2d 418 (Ill. App. 1985).
135. See Baron et al., supra note 1, at 607.
136. Lovato, 601 P.2d 1072; In re Haymer, 450 N.E.2d 940.
137. Dority, 145 Cal. App. 3d 273.
138. Nethery v. State, 692 S.W.2d 686 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985).
139. Ewing v. State, 719 N.E.2d 1221 (Ind. 1999); People v. Lai, 131 A.D.2d 592 (N.Y. App. Div. 1987); State v. Guess, 715 A.2d 643 (Conn. 1998); State v. Olson, 435 N.W.2d 530 (Minn. 1989); United State v. Market, 65 M.J. 677 (N-M. Ct. Crim. App. 2007).
140. In re Haymer, 450 N.E.2d at 945 n. 9.
141. United States v. Gomez, 15 M.J. 954 (A.C.M.R. 1983).
142. Id., at 959.
143. See Wijdicks, Clinical Criteria, supra note 2 at 540.
144. See State's statutes, supra note 3.
145. See Burke et al., supra note 67, at 55.
146. See Kulkarni and Cronin, supra note 8, at 3261 Lazar et al., supra note 12 at 834; see also J. McKinley Surgeon Accused of Speeding a Death to Get Organs New York Times, February 27, 2008, available at http://www.nytimes.com/ 2008/02/27/us/27transplant.html?-r=1&oref=slogin (last visited October 6, 2008).
147. L. A. Siminoff, C. Burant, and S. Younger Death and Organ Procurement: Public Beliefs and Attitudes Social Science & Medicine 59, no. 11 (2004 2325 2334, at 2330.
148. See Saposnik et al., supra note 75, at 210.
149. A. M. Capron Brain Death - Well Settled Yet Still Unresolved New England Journal of Medicine 344, no. 16 (2001 1244 1246, at 1245.
150. See Kulkarni and Cronin, supra note 8, at 3260 (Extended criteria for organ donor include the donors whose characteristics are not considered to be ideal or standard.) Howard Koh et al. A Statewide Public Health Approach to Improving Organ Donation: The Massachusetts Organ Donation Initiative American Journal of Public Health 97, no. 1 (2007 30 36 (Massachusetts Organ Donation Initiative is to form a unique partnership among organ procurement organizations, major teaching hospitals, and the state's department of public health to increase organ supply by focusing on reaching families during a time of critical decision-making.)
151. A. Salim The Effect of a Protocol of Aggressive Donor Management: Implications for the National Organ Donor Shortage Journal of Trauma, Injury, Infection and Critical Care 61, no. 2 (2006 429 435 (In other words, the characteristics include advanced age, hypertension, and abnormal organ donor function. Aggressive donor management intends to increase organ supply by identifying potential donors in early stage.).
152. L. A. Siminoff, M. B. Mercer, G. Graham, and C. Burant The Reasons Families Donate Organs for Transplantation: Implications for Policy and Practice The Journal of Trauma, Injury, Infection, and Critical Care 62, no. 4 (2006 969 978, at 973.
153. See Powner et al., supra note 2, at 1284.
154. See Baron et al., supra note 1, at 606.
155. Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 30, at 1012.
156. See Randell, supra note 1, at 140.
157. Id., at 143.
158. Id., at 141.
159. Id., at 141; see Wijdicks, supra note 29, at 1220; Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 30, at 1013.
160. Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 30, at 1013.
161. G. Bryan Young, S. D. Shemie, C. J. Doig, and J. Teitelbaum Brief Review: The Role of Ancillary Tests in the Neurological Determination of Death Canadian Journal of Anesthesia 53, no. 6 (2006 620 627 at 621.
162. Id., at 625.
163. See Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 30, at 1013.
164. Id.
165. Id.
166. See Halevy and Brody, supra note 1, at 520-521 Ala, supra note 69, at 1806 Saposnik et al., supra note 69, at 221 E. F. M. Wijdicks, E. M. Manno, and S. R. Holets Ventilator Self-Cycling May Falsely Suggest Patient Effort during Brain Death Determination Neurology 65, no. 5 (2005 774.
167. See Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 30, at 1013.
168. W. M. Flowers and B. R. Patel Accuracy of Clinical Evaluation in the Determination of Brain Death Southern Medical Journal 93 no. 2 (2000 203 206, at 206.
169. Id.
170. See Powner et al, supra note 2, at 1285.
171. Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (West 1987).
172. See Wijdicks (Brain Death Worldwide), supra note, 2, at 21.
173. See Wijdicks (Clinical Criteria), supra note 2, at 541 Wang et al., supra note 3, at 736.
174. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, available at http://www.jointcommission.org/CertificationPrograms/ TransplantCenterCertification/ (last visited October 6, 2008).