Shouldn't Dead Be Dead?: The Search for a Uniform Definition of Death

Abstract

In 1968, the definition of death in the United States was expanded to include not just death by cardiopulmonary criteria, but also death by neurologic criteria. We explore the way the definition has been modified by the medical and legal communities over the past 50 years and address the medical, legal and ethical controversies associated with the definition at present, with a particular highlight on the Supreme Court of Nevada Case of Aden Hailu.

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In re Welfare of Bowman, 617 P. 2d 731.(1980); In re Haymer, 115 Ill.App.3d 349, 450 N.E.2d; 940.(1983); 10 N.Y.C.R.R. § 400.16; Ala. Code §22-31-1; Alaska Stat. §09.68.120; Ark. Code §20-17-101; Ca. Health & Saf. Code §7180; Colo. Rev. Stat. §12-36-136; Conn. Gen. Stat. §19a-504a; Del. Code. Tit. 24, §1760; Fla. Stat. §765.511; Ga. Code. Ann. §31-10-16; Haw. Rev. Stat. §327C-1; Idaho Code Ann. §54-1819; Ind. Code §1-1-4-3; Iowa Code § 702.8; Kan. Stat. Ann. §77-205; Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §446.400; La. Stat. Ann. §9:111; Me. Stat. Tit. 22, §2811; Md. Code, Com. Law §5—202; Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 190B, §1-107; Mich. Comp. Laws §333.1033; Minn. Stat. §145.135; Miss. Code Ann. §41-36-3; Mo. Rev. Stat. §194.005; Mont. Code Ann. §50-22-101; Neb. Rev. Stat. §71-7202; Nev. Rev. Stat. §451.007; N.J. Rev. Stat. §26:6A; N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §141-D:2; N.M. Stat. §12-2-4; N.D. Cent. Code §23-06.3-01; Ohio Rev. Code §2108.40; Okla. Stat. Tit. 63, §3122; Or. Rev. Stat. §112.582; 35 Pa. Cons. Stat. §10203; 23 R. I. Gen. Laws §23-4-26; S.C. Code Ann. §44-43-460; S.D. Codified Laws §34-25-18.1; Tenn. Code Ann. §68-3-501; Tex. HS. Code §671.001; Utah Code §26-34-2; Vt. Stat. Ann. Tit. 18, §5218; Va. Code Ann. §54.1-2972; W. Va. Code § 16-10-01; Wis. Stat. Ann. § 146.71; Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 35-19-101; D. C. Code § 7—601.

31.

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33.

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10 N.Y.C.R.R. § 400.16; N.J. Rev. Stat. §26:6A; Ca. Health & Saf. Code §1254.4; 210 Ill. Comp. Stat. §85/6.24.

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54.

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210 Ill. Comp. Stat. §85/6.24.

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Id.

59.

In re Guardianship of Hailu, 361 P.3d 524.(2015); In re Welfare of Bowman, 617 P. 2d 731.(1980); In re Haymer, 115 Ill. App.3d 349, 450 N.E.2d 940.(1983); 10 N.Y.C.R.R. § 400.16; Ala. Code §22-31-1; Alaska Stat. §09.68.120; Ariz. Rev. Stat. §14-1107; Ark. Code §20-17-101; Ca. Health & Saf. Code §7180; Colo. Rev. Stat. §12-36-136; Conn. Gen. Stat. §19a-504a; Del. Code. Tit. 24, §1760; Fla. Stat. §765.511; Ga. Code. Ann. §31-10-16; Haw. Rev. Stat. §327C-1; Idaho Code Ann. §54-1819; Ind. Code §1-1-4-3; Iowa Code § 702.8; Kan. Stat. Ann. §77-205; Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §446.400; La. Stat. Ann. §9:111; Me. Stat. Tit. 22, §2811; Md. Code, Com. Law §5—202; Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 190B, §1-107; Mich. Comp. Laws §333.1033; Minn. Stat. §145.135; Miss. Code Ann. §41-36-3; Mo. Rev. Stat. §194.005; Mont. Code Ann. §50-22-101; Neb. Rev. Stat. §71-7202; Nev. Rev. Stat. §451.007; N.J. Rev. Stat. §26:6A; N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §141-D:2; N.M. Stat. §12-2-4; N.C. Gen. Stat. §90-323; N.D. Cent. Code §23-06.3-01; Ohio Rev. Code §2108.40; Okla. Stat. Tit. 63, §3122; Or. Rev. Stat. §112.582; 35 Pa. Cons. Stat. §10203; 23 R. I. Gen. Laws §23-4-26; S.C. Code Ann. §44-43-460; S.D. Codified Laws §34-25-18.1; Tenn. Code Ann. §68-3-501; Tex. HS. Code §671.001; Utah Code §26-34-2; Vt. Stat. Ann. Tit. 18, §5218; Va. Code Ann. §54.1-2972; W. Va. Code § 16-10-01; Wis. Stat. Ann. § 146.71; Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 35-19-101; D. C. Code § 7—601.

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66.

In re Welfare of Bowman, 617 P. 2d 731.(1980); In re Haymer, 115 Ill.App.3d 349, 450 N.E.2d 940.(1983); 10 N.Y.C.R.R. § 400.16; Ala. Code §22-31-1; Alaska Stat. §09.68.120; Ark. Code §20-17-101; Ca. Health & Saf. Code §7180; Colo. Rev. Stat. §12-36-136; Conn. Gen. Stat. §19a-504a; Del. Code. Tit. 24, §1760; Fla. Stat. §765.511; Ga. Code. Ann. §31-10-16; Haw. Rev. Stat. §327C-1; Idaho Code Ann. §54-1819; Ind. Code §1-1-4-3; Iowa Code § 702.8; Kan. Stat. Ann. §77-205; Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §446.400; La. Stat. Ann. §9:111; Me. Stat. Tit. 22, §2811; Md. Code, Com. Law §5—202; Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 190B, §1-107; Mich. Comp. Laws §333.1033; Minn. Stat. §145.135; Miss. Code Ann. §41-36-3; Mo. Rev. Stat. §194.005; Mont. Code Ann. §50-22-101; Neb. Rev. Stat. §71-7202; Nev. Rev. Stat. §451.007; N.J. Rev. Stat. §26:6A; N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §141-D:2; N.M. Stat. §12-2-4; N.C. Gen. Stat. §90-323; N.D. Cent. Code §23-06.3-01; Ohio Rev. Code §2108.40; Okla. Stat. Tit. 63, §3122; Or. Rev. Stat. §112.582; 35 Pa. Cons. Stat. §10203; 23 R. I. Gen. Laws §23-4-26; S.C. Code Ann. §44-43-460; S.D. Codified Laws §34-25-18.1; Tenn. Code Ann. §68-3-501; Tex. HS. Code §671.001; Utah Code §26-34-2; Vt. Stat. Ann. Tit. 18, §5218; Va. Code Ann. §54.1-2972; W. Va. Code § 16-10-01; Wis. Stat. Ann. § 146.71; Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 35-19-101; D. C. Code § 7—601.

67.

In re Haymer, 115 Ill.App.3d 349, 450 N.E.2d 940.(1983); Iowa Code § 702.8; La. Stat. Ann. §9:111; N.C. Gen. Stat. §90-323; Tex. HS. Code §671.001.

68.

In re Haymer, 115 Ill.App.3d 349, 450 N.E.2d 940.(1983); Iowa Code § 702.8; La. Stat. Ann. §9:111; N.C. Gen. Stat. §90-323; Tex. HS. Code §671.001.

69.

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71.

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73.

10 N.Y.C.R.R. § 400.16; N.J. Rev. Stat. §26:6A; Ca. Health & Saf. Code §1254.4; 210 Ill. Comp. Stat. §85/6.24.

74.

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75.

See President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research, supra note 7.

76.

Id.

77.

See Burkle, Sharp, and Wijdicks, supra note 69; Lewis, Varelas, and Greer, supra note 72.

78.

See President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research, supra note 7.

79.

Id.

80.

81.

Ga. Code. Ann. §31-10-16.

82.

83.

In re Haymer, 115 Ill.App.3d 349, 450 N.E.2d 940.(1983); Fla. Stat. §765.511; Haw. Rev. Stat. §327C-1; Iowa Code § 702.8; Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §446.400; La. Stat. Ann. §9:111; Md. Code, Com. Law §5—202; Minn. Stat. §145.135; Mo. Rev. Stat. §194.005; N.J. Rev. Stat. §26:6A; N.C. Gen. Stat. §90-323; Tex. HS. Code §671.001; Va. Code Ann. §54.1-2972.

84.

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85.

See President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research, supra note 7.

86.

See Wijdicks, supra note 1; See “A Definition of Irreversible Coma: Report of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Harvard Medical School to Examine the Definition of Brain Death,” supra note 3.

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93.

Id.

94.

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96.

In re Guardianship of Hailu, 361 P.3d 524.(2015).

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101.

Id.; see Powner, Snyder, and Grenvik supra note 87.

102.

See. Wijdicks, supra note 100.

103.

See “A definition of irreversible coma. Report of the Ad Hoc Committee of the Harvard Medical School to Examine the Definition of Brain Death,” supra note 3; Wijdicks et al., supra note 14.

104.

In re Guardianship of Hailu, 361 P.3d 524.(2015).

105.

Nev. Rev. Stat. §451.007.

106.

See Wijdicks, supra note 11.

107.

See President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research, supra note 7; see Wijdicks, supra note 11; In re Guardianship of Hailu, 361 P.3d 524.(2015).

108.

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109.

See President's Commission for the Study of Ethical Problems in Medicine and Biomedical and Behavioral Research, supra note 7; In re Guardianship of Hailu, 361 P.3d 524.(2015).

110.

In re Welfare of Bowman, 617 P. 2d 731.(1980); In re Haymer, 115 Ill.App.3d 349, 450 N.E.2d 940.(1983); 10 N.Y.C.R.R. § 400.16; Ala. Code §22-31-1; Alaska Stat. §09.68.120; Ark. Code §20-17-101; Ariz. Rev. Stat. §14-1107; Ca. Health & Saf. Code §7180; Colo. Rev. Stat. §12-36-136; Conn. Gen. Stat. §19a-504a; Del. Code. Tit. 24, §1760; Fla. Stat. §765.511; Ga. Code. Ann. §31-10-16; Haw. Rev. Stat. §327C-1; Idaho Code Ann. §54-1819; Ind. Code §1-1-4-3; Iowa Code § 702.8; Kan. Stat. Ann. §77-205; Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §446.400; La. Stat. Ann. §9:111; Me. Stat. Tit. 22, §2811; Md. Code, Com. Law §5—202; Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 190B, §1-107; Mich. Comp. Laws §333.1033; Minn. Stat. §145.135; Miss. Code Ann. §41-36-3; Mo. Rev. Stat. §194.005; Mont. Code Ann. §50-22-101; Neb. Rev. Stat. §71-7202; Nev. Rev. Stat. §451.007; N.J. Rev. Stat. §26:6A; N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §141-D:2; N.M. Stat. §12-2-4; N.C. Gen. Stat. §90-323; N.D. Cent. Code §23-06.3-01; Ohio Rev. Code §2108.40; Okla. Stat. Tit. 63, §3122; Or. Rev. Stat. §112.582; 35 Pa. Cons. Stat. §10203; 23 R. I. Gen. Laws §23-4-26; S.C. Code Ann. §44-43-460; S.D. Codified Laws §34-25-18.1; Tenn. Code Ann. §68-3-501; Tex. HS. Code §671.001; Utah Code §26-34-2; Vt. Stat. Ann. Tit. 18, §5218; Va. Code Ann. §54.1-2972; W. Va. Code § 16-10-01; Wis. Stat. Ann. § 146.71; Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 35-19-101; D. C. Code § 7—601.

111.

See Wijdicks et al., supra note 14; In re Guardianship of Hailu, 361 P.3d 524.(2015).

112.

Defining Death: Medical, Legal and Ethical Issues in the Determination of Death.

113.

See Shemie et al., supra note 60.

114.

In re Guardianship of Hailu, 361 P.3d 524.(2015); see Lewis, Varelas, and Greer, supra note 72.

115.

Id. (Lewis et al.).

116.

Ariz. Rev. Stat. §14-1107.

117.

In re Haymer, 115 Ill.App.3d 349, 450 N.E.2d 940.(1983).

118.

Iowa Code § 702.8.

119.

La. Stat. Ann. §9:111.

120.

N.C. Gen. Stat. §90-323.

121.

Tex. HS. Code §671.001.

122.

Fla. Stat. §765.511; N.J. Rev. Stat. §26:6A.

123.

Ga. Code. Ann. §31-10-16.

124.

Haw. Rev. Stat. §327C-1.

125.

In re Haymer, 115 Ill.App.3d 349, 450 N.E.2d 940.(1983); Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §446.400; Mo. Rev. Stat. §194.005.

126.

Iowa Code § 702.8; Tex. HS. Code §671.001; Md. Code, Com. Law §5—202; Va. Code Ann. §54.1-2972.

127.

La. Stat. Ann. §9:111.

128.

Minn. Stat. §145.135.

129.

N.C. Gen. Stat. §90-323.

130.

Ala. Code §22-31-1.

131.

Alaska Stat. §09.68.120; Alaska Stat. §08.68.700; Alaska Stat. §18.08.089.

132.

Ariz. Rev. Stat. §36-852; Ariz. Rev. Stat. §36-325; Ariz. Rev. Stat. §32-2531.

133.

Ark. Code §20-17-1214; Ark. Code §20-18-601.

134.

Ca. Health & Saf. Code §7181; Ca. Health & Saf. Code §102795.

135.

Colo. Rev. Stat. §12-34-114.

136.

Conn. Gen. Stat. §19a-289m; Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-101a; Conn. Gen. Stat. §Sec. 20-12d; Conn. Gen. Stat. §7-62b.

137.

Del. Code. Tit. 24, §1760; Del. Code. Tit. 24, §1935; Del. Code. Tit. 24, §1902.

138.

D. C. Code §5-1405; D. C. Code §7-211.

139.

Fla. Stat. §382.009.

140.

Ga. Code. Ann. §43-34-25; Ga. Code. Ann. §31-10-16.

141.

Haw. Rev. Stat. §327C-1.

142.

Idaho Code Ann. §39-260.

143.

410 Ill. Comp. Stat. §535/18.

144.

Ind. Code §16-37-1-3.1.

145.

Iowa Code § 144.26; Iowa Code § 702.8.

146.

Kan. Stat. Ann. §65-2412.

147.

Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §213.076; Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §446.400; Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §314.046.

148.

La. Stat. Ann. §9:111.

149.

Me. Stat. Tit. 22, §2842.

150.

Md. Code, Com. Law §4-212.

151.

Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 46, §9.

152.

Mich. Comp. Laws §333.1033.

153.

Minn. Stat. §525A.14.

154.

Miss. Code Ann. §41-39-127.

155.

Mo. Rev. Stat. §193.145.

156.

Mont. Code Ann. §50-15-403.

157.

Neb. Rev. Stat. §71-605.

158.

Nev. Rev. Stat. §440.380; Nev. Rev. Stat. §440.415.

159.

N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. §5-C:64.

160.

N.J. Rev. Stat. §26:6-89; N.J. Rev. Stat. §26:6-8.1; N.J. Rev. Stat. §26:6A.

161.

N.M. Stat. §24-14-20.

162.

N.Y. U.C.C. Law §4141.

163.

N.C. Gen. Stat. §130A-115; N.C. Gen. Stat. §90-323.

164.

N.D. Cent. Code §23-02.1-19.

165.

Ohio Rev. Code §2108.40; Ohio Rev. Code §4723.36; Ohio Rev. Code §4730.202.

166.

Okla. Stat. Tit. 63, §1-317.

167.

Or. Rev. Stat. §432.133; Or. Rev. Stat. §677.518; Or. Rev. Stat. §678.375.

168.

35 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 450.502.

169.

23 R. I. Gen. Laws §23-3-16.

170.

S.C. Code Ann. §44-63-74.

171.

S.D. Codified Laws §34-25-18.

172.

Tenn. Code Ann. §68-3-502; Tenn. Code Ann. §68-3-511; Tenn. Code Ann. §68-3-512.

173.

Tex. HS. Code §671.001.

174.

Utah Code §26-2-13.

175.

Vt. Stat. Ann. Tit. 18, § 5202.

176.

Va. Code Ann. §32.1-263; Va. Code Ann. §54.1-2972.

177.

70.58.170.

178.

W. Va. Code § 16-5-19.

179.

Wis. Stat. Ann. § 69.18.

180.

Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 35-1-418.