Concept in Definition ABC

From a generic point of view, death is the completion of the vital activities of an organism. In the particular case of human reality, the current definition from a medical and legal point of view refers to the cessation of all activity in the brain, further demanding that this termination be completely irreversible.

In order to verify this situation, a series of procedures and rigorously guided protocols.
It should be noted that the definition of death has undergone a series of variations throughout history. In the past, the criteria for declaring a person clinically dead was the absence of breathing and of beats in the heart. With the evolution of the technology used, which allowed the conservation artificial cardiac and respiratory activity in patients, this criterion had to be revised. Furthermore, another circumstance made this review necessary: ​​the possibility of using the organs of patients with no brain activity to save lives. That is why after a period of

evaluation, the medical community decided to adopt the new definition of death, one that emphasizes the role of the brain as the main articulator of the body's functions.

The relevant procedures for the verification of brain death are: record of the absence of reflexes before a series of stimuli (in the feet, hands and chest); apnea test, which shows the absolute lack of breathing; and finally, obtaining a flat EEG. It is important to note that an isolated flat EEG is of no value in diagnosing brain death; it is absolutely necessary to carry out the other evaluations to reach this diagnosis. Due to various circumstances, it is likely that it is impossible to complete any of the different clinical tests; In these cases, other types of tests are usually used to make up for this deficiency. Finally, when all protocol guidelines are met, the patient is considered dead and the procedure is carried out. minutes of death.

Themes in Death