Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2007 Mar;33(3):146-9.
doi: 10.1136/jme.2006.016014.

Individual choice in the definition of death

A Bagheri  1
Affiliations
Review

Individual choice in the definition of death

A Bagheri. J Med Ethics. 2007 Mar.

Abstract

While there are numerous doubts, controversies and lack of consensus on alternative definitions of human death, it is argued that it is more ethical to allow people to choose either cessation of cardio-respiratory function or loss of entire brain function as the definition of death based on their own views. This paper presents the law of organ transplantation in Japan, which allows people to decide whether brain death can be used to determine their death in agreement with their family. Arguably, Japan could become a unique example of individual choice in the definition of death if the law is revised to allow individuals choose definition of death independently of their family. It suggests that such an approach is one of the reasonable policy options a country can adopt for legislation on issues related to the definition of death.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Comment in

References

    1. Bleich J D. Establishing criteria of death. In: Beauchamp T, Veatch RM. eds. Ethical issues in death and dying. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 199628
    1. Zamperetti N, Bellomo R, Ronco C. Defining death in non‐heart beating organ donors. J Med Ethics 200329182–185. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Olick R S. Brain death and religious freedom and public policy. Kennedy Inst Ethics J 19914275–288. - PubMed
    1. Veatch R M. The impending collapse of the whole‐brain definition of death. In: Beauchamp T, Veatch RM, eds. Ethical issues in death and dying. Englewood cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 199637–47.
    1. Machado C. A definition of human death should not be related to organ transplants. J Med Ethics 200329201–202. - PMC - PubMed