What is death?

[Techmonkey]

In a medical context? When is a patient dead (in your opinion?)

[KeithBMI]

When brain activity stops.

[cassanova]

When all neurological functioning and heart cease to continue.

[Techmonkey]

Originally Posted by KeithBMI

When brain activity stops.

brain activity in general? what about people in comas, or those who are temporarily unconscious?

indeed, people are classified as brain dead when the hypothalamus still functions (controlling breathing, circulation etc)... and they're dead enough to have their organs removed

[Stumbo]

In a medical context, it's not based on one's opinion. Maybe in a philosophical context.

Definition of Death

Death: 1. The end of life. The cessation of life. (These common definitions of death ultimately depend upon the definition of life, upon which there is no consensus.) 2. The permanent cessation of all vital bodily functions. (This definition depends upon the definition of "vital bodily functions.") See: Vital bodily functions. 3. The common law standard for determining death is the cessation of all vital functions, traditionally demonstrated by "an absence of spontaneous respiratory and cardiac functions."


4. The uniform determination of death. The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in 1980 formulated the Uniform Determination of Death Act. It states that: "An individual who has sustained either (1) irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions, or (2) irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem is dead. A determination of death must be made in accordance with accepted medical standards." This definition was approved by the American Medical Association in 1980 and by the American Bar Association in 1981.

[MakiSupaStar]

Originally Posted by Stumbo

In a medical context, it's not based on one's opinion. Maybe in a philosophical context.

Definition of Death

Death: 1. The end of life. The cessation of life. (These common definitions of death ultimately depend upon the definition of life, upon which there is no consensus.) 2. The permanent cessation of all vital bodily functions. (This definition depends upon the definition of "vital bodily functions.") See: Vital bodily functions. 3. The common law standard for determining death is the cessation of all vital functions, traditionally demonstrated by "an absence of spontaneous respiratory and cardiac functions."


4. The uniform determination of death. The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws in 1980 formulated the Uniform Determination of Death Act. It states that: "An individual who has sustained either (1) irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions, or (2) irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem is dead. A determination of death must be made in accordance with accepted medical standards." This definition was approved by the American Medical Association in 1980 and by the American Bar Association in 1981.

This is what we go by in the field.

[Stumbo]

Originally Posted by Techmonkey

When is a patient dead (in your opinion?)

Are you referring to a human patient being treated my a doctor or or something lower on the evolutionary scale treated by a veterinarian?

If you had said "person", then this post would be unnecessary.

Also, why did you put "in your opinion" in your post question?
I call troll alert.

[T.O.Bass]

Death is brain-death. Very rarely a fetus devops fully, but without a complete brain - only the brain stem develops. The body is funtional, but there is no activity beyond that which regulates heart beat, breathing, etc. Since the body lacks the full brain (especially the frontal lobes, generally considered the seat of consciousness) it is not considered to be alive in the sense that you or I are.

This is also the justification used when pulling the plug on someone who has suffered massive brain damage. No action in the frontal lobes, no person left.

[FL Knifemaker]

It's the only other sure thing besides taxes.

[hover]

[bassteban]

I have an 18-yr-old cat. Her breath is death.

[MatticusMania]

THis would be a much more intelligent question had you asked it in a philisophical context, rather than a medical one.

Death is the ultimate goal of life.

[bad_andy]

"Death is life's little way of saying, 'You're not alive anymore'."
- Bull Shannon, Night Court

[jonathan_matos5]

i was gonna say something philosophical but you asked what death is medically. and the answer is when all motion and brain function cease i.e. no heart beat no blood circulation no breath the muscles become rigged(rigor mortis) etc.


now philosophically speaking it is either passing out of existence or on to the next plane of existence or even both.

[Techmonkey]

Originally Posted by Stumbo

Are you referring to a human patient being treated my a doctor or or something lower on the evolutionary scale treated by a veterinarian?

If you had said "person", then this post would be unnecessary.

Also, why did you put "in your opinion" in your post question?
I call troll alert.

haha steady on I'm preparing for med school interviews, and apparently this question is one which comes up at the better medical schools fairly often. genuine question that I wanted some fronts to think about.

I put in my opinion because I'm fairly aware that some people might consider death to be the absence of spirit from the body or something... of course they'll expect to me know the medical definition of death - so thanks for those who pointed that out, especially maki for providing a first hand answer

as for whether we're talking about a philosophical or a medical context - I think I'll have to approach it from both - or at least signal that some people will be very aware of both whenever the word 'death' is used in practice.

[MatticusMania]

Originally Posted by Techmonkey

haha steady on I'm preparing for med school interviews, and apparently this question is one which comes up at the better medical schools fairly often. genuine question that I wanted some fronts to think about.

I put in my opinion because I'm fairly aware that some people might consider death to be the absence of spirit from the body or something... of course they'll expect to me know the medical definition of death - so thanks for those who pointed that out, especially maki for providing a first hand answer

as for whether we're talking about a philosophical or a medical context - I think I'll have to approach it from both - or at least signal that some people will be very aware of both whenever the word 'death' is used in practice.

as a med student, you'll most likely only be expected to answer it from a medical point of few. its best for doctors not to bring philosophy to the medical bed, it only complicates things.

[Benjamin Strange]

Death is what happens when I get around to stabbing all of you.

[Joe Gress]

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

Death is what happens when I get around to stabbing all of you.

Such an angry young man. Chill dude.

[whoatherechunk]

separation of the soul from the mind/body.

[username n/a]

Death is when you stop living.