Brain Death Revisited: The Case for a National Standard

Hoch D. B. , “Brain Death: A Diagnostic Dilemma,” The Journal of Nuclear Medicine 33, no. 12 (1992): 2211–2213, at 2212; Halevy A. Brody B. , “Brain Death: Reconciling Definitions, Criteria, and Trusts,” Annals of Internal Medicine 119, no. 6 (1993): 519–525, at 519; Randell T. , “Medical and Legal Considerations of Brain Death,” Acta Anesthesiologica Scandinavica 48 (2004): 139–144, at 139; Baron L. Shemie S. D. Teitelbaum J. Doig C. J. , “Brief Review: History, Concept and Controversies in the Neurological Determination of Death,” Canadian Journal of Anesthesia 53, no. 6 (2006): 602–608, at 603.

Wijdicks E. F. M. , “The Clinical Criteria of Brain Death Throughout the World: Why Has It Come to This?” Canadian Journal of Anesthesia 53, no. 6 (2006): 540–543, at 540 [hereinafter Clinical Criteria]; Powner D. J. Hernandez M. Rives T.E. , “Variability among Hospital Policies for Determining Brain Death in Adults,” Critical Care Medicine 32, no.6 (2004): 1284–1288; Wijdicks E. F. M. , “Brain Death Worldwide: Accepted Fact but No Global Consensus in Diagnostic Criteria,” Neurology 58, no. 1 (2002): 20–25, at 24 [hereinafter Brain Death Worldwide].

See Wijdicks (Clinical Criteria), supra note 2, at 540; Wijdicks , (Brain Death Worldwide), supra note 2, at 23; Wang M. Y. Wallace P. Gruen P. J. , “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].

Mejia R. E. Pollack M. M. , “Variability in Brain Death Determination Practices in Children,” JAMA 274, no. 7 (1995): 550–553, at 551–552; Youngner S. J. Landefeld C. S. Coulton C. J. Juknialis B. W. Leary M. , “‘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; see Wang , supra note 3, at 732–733.

Jeffrey S. , “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 , supra note 4, at 2208–2209.

See Baron , supra note 1, at 607.

Kulkarni S. Cronin D. C. II , “Ethical Tensions in Solid Organtransplantation: The Price of Success,” World Journal of Gastroenterology 12, no. 20 (2006): 3259–3264, at 3261.

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, available at <http://www.optn.org/about/donation/whoCanBeA-Donor.asp> (last visited October 6, 2008).

See Kulkarni Cronin , supra note 8, at 3259.

The United Network for Organ Sharing, available at <http://www.unos.org> (last visited October 6, 2008).

The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, available at <http://www.optn.org/latestData/rptData.asp> (last visited October 6, 2008).

Lazar N. M. Shemie S. Webster G. C. Dickens B. M. , “Bioethics for Clinicians: 24 Brain Deaths,” Canadian Medical Association Journal 164 no. 6 (2001): 833–836, at 834.

See Wijdicks (Clinical Criteria), supra note 2, at 541; Powner , supra note 2, at 1287; Wijdicks (Brain Death Worldwide), supra note 2, at 24.

In re Quinlan , 355 A.2d 647 (N. J. 1976).

See Halevy Brody , supra note 1, at 519.

Smith v. Smith , 317 S.W.2d 275 (Ark. 1958).

Truog R. D. Robinson W. M. , “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.

See Randell , supra note 1, at 140.

See State statutes and cases, supra note 3.

See Wang , supra note 3 at 732.

Uniform Determination of Death Act 1980, prefatory note. (West 1980)

Uniform Determination of Death Act 1980. (West 1980)

See Wang , supra note 3, at 732.

See State's statutes, supra note 3.

See State's cases, supra note 3.

Wijdicks E. F. M. , “The Diagnosis of Brain Death,” New England Journal of Medicine 344, no. 16 (2001): 1215–1221, at 1215.

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].

See Wijdicks , supra note 29, at 1216.

See Wijdicks , Clinical Criteria, supra note 2, at 540.

Shewmom D. A. , “Chronic ‘Brain Death’: Meta-analysis and Conceptiual Consequences,” Neurology 51 (1998): 1538–1545; Halevy A. Brody B. , “Brain Death: Reconciling Definitions, Criteria, and Tests,” Annals of Internal Medicine 119 (1993): 519–255; Truog R. D. , “Is It Time to Abandon Brain Death?” Hastings Center Report 27, no. 1 (1997): 29–37.

Chiong W. , “Brain Death without Definitions,” Hastings Center Report 35, no. 6 (2005): 20–30.

See Randell , supra note 1, at 140.

See Baron , supra note 1, at 603.

See Wijdicks , supra note 29, at 1215.

See Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 32.

See Wijdicks , supra note 29.

Id., at 1216.

See Mejia Pollack , supra note 4, at 550.

See Randell , supra note 1, at 142; Mejia Pollack , supra note 4, at 550.

See Mejia Pollack , supra note 4, at 550.

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.

See Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 31, at 1012–1013;Canadian Neurocritical Care Group, supra note 46, at 65.

See Wijdicks , supra note 29, at 1220; Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 32, at 1013.

See State's statutes, supra note 3.

See Wijdicks , Clinical Criteria, supra note 2, at 540; Wijdicks (Brain Death Worldwide), supra note 2, at 23; Powner , supra note 2, at 1285; Mejia Pollack , supra note 4, at 551; Wang , supra note 3, at 732–733; Jeffrey , supra note 5, at 1; Chang M. Y. McBride L. A. Ferguson M. A. , “Variability in Brain Death Declaration Practices in Pediatric Head Trauma Patients,” Pediatric Neurosurgery 39 (2003): 7–9, at 9.

See Wijdicks (Brain Death Worldwide), supra note 2, at 21.

See State's statutes, supra note 3.

Fla. Stat. Ann. § 382.009 (West 1987)

N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 10, § 400.16 (e)(3) (1987); Matter of hong 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).

Va. Code Ann. § 54.1–2972 (West 2004)

Alaska Stat. § 09.68.120 (West 1995); Ga. Code Ann., § 31-10-16 (West 1992); Mich. Comp. Laws. Ann. § 333.1033 (West 1992)

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)

Fla. Stat. Ann. § 382.009 (West 1987)

Va. Code Ann. § 54.1–2972 (West 2004)

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)

Capron A. M. , “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.”)

Dority , 145 Cal. App. 3d at 279.

N.J. Statues Ann. 52:17B-88.1 through 88.6; N.Y. Public Health Law 4210-c(1) et seq.

See Wang , supra note 3, at 732–733; Mejia Pollack , supra note 4, at 551–552; Youngner , supra note 4, at 2208–2209; Burck R. Anderson-Shaw L. Sheldon M. Egan E. A. , “The Clinical Response to Brain Death: A Policy Proposal,” JONA's Healthcare haw, Ethics, and Regulation 8, no. 2 (2006): 53–59, at 55.

See Youngner , supra note 4 at 2208.

See Halevy Brody , supra note 1, at 520–521; Ala T. A. , “A Case Meeting Clinical Brain Death Criteria with Residual Cerebral Perfusion,” American Journal of Neuroradiology 27 (2006): 1805–1806, at 1805; Saposnik G. Bueri J. A. Maurino J. Saizar R. Garretto N. S. , “Spontaneous and Reflex Movements in Brain Death,” Neurology 54 (2000): 221–224, at 221.

See Ala , supra note 69, at 1806, 1882; Saposnik , supra note 69, at 221.

See Saposnik , supra note 69, at 222.

Saposnik G. Maurino J. Bueri J. , “Movements in Brain Death,” European Journal of Neurology 8 (2001): 209–213, at 209.

See Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 30, at 1013; Saposnik , supra note 75, at 212.

See Halevy Brody , supra note 1, at 520.

Black P. M. Zervas N. T. , “Declaration of Brain Death in Neurosurgical and Neurological Practice,” Neurosurgery 15 (1984): 170–174, at 170.

Id., at 171.

Id., at 171–172.

Id., at 172.

Id., at 173.

Id., at 171.

See Wijdicks (Brain Death Worldwide), supra note 2, at 23; Powner , supra note 2, at 1285; Mejia Pollack , supra note 4, at 551; Wang , supra note 3, at 732–733; Jeffrey , supra note 5, at 1; Chang , supra note 52, at 79.

See Powner , supra note 2, at 1284.

Id., at 1285.

See Powner et al, supra note 2, at 1285; Mejia Pollack , supra note 4, at 551; Jeffrey , supra note 5, at 1.

See Wang , supra note 3, at 732–733.

See Powner et al, supra note 2, at 1284–1285.

Id., at 1285.

Id., at 1285–1287.

Id., at 1285.

Id., at 1285–1287.

Id., at 1285.

Id., at 1286.

Id., at 1287.

See Jeffrey , supra note 5, at 1.

Id., at 1–2.

See Wang , supra note 3, at 732.

Id., at 732–733.

Id., at 734.

See Mejia Pollack , supra note 4, at 550–552.

Id., at 551–552.

See Chang , supra note 52, at 8.

Izac S. M. , “Quality Assurance in Determinations of Brain Death,” American Journal of Electroneurodiagnostic Technology 44, no. 3 (2004): 159–171, at 161.

See Lazar , supra note 12, at 834.

Janus v. Metro. Life Ins. Co. , 482 N.E.2d 418 (Ill. App. 1985).

See Baron , supra note 1, at 607.

Lovato , 601 P.2d 1072; In re Haymer, 450 N.E.2d 940.

Dority , 145 Cal. App. 3d 273.

Nethery v. State , 692 S.W.2d 686 (Tex. Crim. App. 1985).

Ewing v. State , 719 N.E.2d 1221 (Ind. 1999); People v. hai, 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)

In re Haymer , 450 N.E.2d at 945 n. 9.

United States v. Gomez , 15 M.J. 954 (A.C.M.R. 1983)

Id., at 959.

See Wijdicks , Clinical Criteria, supra note 2 at 540.

See State's statutes, supra note 3.

See Burke , supra note 67, at 55.

See Kulkarni Cronin , supra note 8, at 3261; Lazar , supra note 12 at 834; see also McKinley J. , “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).

Siminoff L. A. Burant C. Younger S. , “Death and Organ Procurement: Public Beliefs and Attitudes,” Social Science & Medicine 59, no. 11 (2004): 2325–2334, at 2330.

See Saposnik , supra note 75, at 210.

Capron A. M. , “Brain Death — Well Settled Yet Still Unresolved,” New England Journal of Medicine 344, no. 16 (2001): 1244–1246, at 1245.

See Kulkarni Cronin , supra note 8, at 3260 (Extended criteria for organ donor include the donors whose characteristics are not considered to be ideal or standard.); Koh Howard , “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.); Salim A. , “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.)

Siminoff L. A. Mercer M. B. Graham G. Burant C. , “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.

See Powner , supra note 2, at 1284.

See Baron , supra note 1, at 606.

Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 30, at 1012.

See Randell , supra note 1, at 140.

Id., at 143.

Id., at 141.

Id., at 141; see Wijdicks , supra note 29, at 1220; Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 30, at 1013.

Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 30, at 1013.

Bryan Young G. Shemie S. D. Doig C. J. Teitelbaum J. , “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.

Id., at 625.

See Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 30, at 1013.

See Halevy Brody , supra note 1, at 520–521; Ala , supra note 69, at 1806; Saposnik , supra note 69, at 221; Wijdicks E. F. M. Manno E. M. Holets S. R. , “Ventilator Self-Cycling May Falsely Suggest Patient Effort during Brain Death Determination,” Neurology 65, no. 5 (2005): 774.

See Quality Standards Subcommittee, supra note 30, at 1013.

Flowers W. M. Patel B. R. , “Accuracy of Clinical Evaluation in the Determination of Brain Death,” Southern Medical Journal 93 no. 2 (2000): 203–206, at 206.

See Powner et al, supra note 2, at 1285.

Uniform Anatomical Gift Act (West 1987).

See Wijdicks (Brain Death Worldwide), supra note, 2, at 21.

See Wijdicks (Clinical Criteria), supra note 2, at 541; Wang , supra note 3, at 736.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, available at <http://www.jointcommission.org/CertificationPrograms/TransplantCenterCertification/> (last visited October 6, 2008).