Brain Death and the Persistent Vegetative State: Similarities and Contrasts

Brain death and the persistent vegetative state: similarities and contrasts.

Brain death and the persistent vegetative state (PVS) share the following features: 1.) There is death of neurons in the brain; 2.) Both require an etiology which is capable of causing neuronal death. 3.) The potential for cognition is totally and permanently lost; 4.) Intensive medical support is usually withdrawn. In contrast, the diagnosis of brain death depends on death of the brainstem, wh...

Death, Brain Death, and Persistent Vegetative State

For most of human history, there was no perceived problem in determining whether a person was alive or dead. If the person had stopped breathing and had no heartbeat, he was considered dead. During the twentieth century, however, techniques were developed that made it possible to resuscitate some people who had stopped breathing and whose heart had stopped beating. With the invention of mechani...

Death, Brain Death, and Persistent Vegetative State

Death, Brain Death, and Persistent Vegetative State The Concept of Brain Death and its Appeal

WHAT IS NOT BRAIN DEATH: THE VEGETATIVE STATE and MOVEMENTS IN BRAIN DEATH*

The main objective of this meeting convened at the Pontifical Academy of Sciences is to discuss the topic of Brain Death. Although in general there is no debate within the scientific community, the concept of Brain Death has been questioned by lay people and in some cases by physicians. For this reason it seemed appropriate to begin this two-day conference discussing ‘What is not Brain Death’, ...