AbstractThere remain serious doubts that “brain death,” or death determined by neurological criteria, is equivalent to true death of the human person. This informal essay offers several distinctions that may help clarify doubts about this issue.KeywordsBioethicsBrain deathDifficult moral questionsEnd of lifeMoral theologyNatural deathNature of deathOrgan donationOrgan donation/transplantationOrgan transplantationGet full access to this articleView all access options for this article.Get accessReferences1. John Paul II Pope . 2000. Eighteenth International Congress of the Transplantation Society. August 29. http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/2000/jul-sep/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_20000829_transplants.html.2. John Paul II Pope . 2004. International Congress on “Life-sustaining Treatments and Vegetative State.” March 20. http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/speeches/2004/march/documents/hf_jp-ii_spe_20040320_congress-fiamc.html.
