Citation

Shrader D. Hastings Cent. Rep. 1986; 16(1): 12-17.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, Institute of Society, Ethics and the Life Sciences)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

3957650

Abstract

It is argued that death should be understood as encompassing a series of distinct but related events. Human beings are viewed as a composite of two intimately related but distinguishable components, as both persons and biological entities. Thus, a brain dead patient can be considered in some sense alive and in some sense dead. This thesis forms the basis for an analysis of a case in which a brain dead pregnant woman's vital functions were artificially sustained until her fetus could be delivered alive, after which the woman's life support systems were disconnected and she ceased breathing. The author holds that this procedure was morally justifiable. He suggests that a multiple-deaths analysis may provide a general framework for discussion of the conditions that justify maintenance of biological functions in neocortically dead human beings, but cautions that any legislation or policy regarding such cases should be flexible and should require consent.

Language: en