International Guideline Development for the Determination of Death

Overview

Journal Intensive Care Med

Specialty Critical Care

Date 2014 Mar 26

PMID 24664151

Citations 84

Authors

Sam D Shemie

Laura Hornby

Andrew Baker

Jeanne Teitelbaum

Sylvia Torrance

Kimberly Young

Alexander M Capron

James L Bernat

Luc Noel

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction And Methods: This report summarizes the results of the first phase in the development of international guidelines for death determination, focusing on the biology of death and the dying process, developed by an invitational forum of international content experts and representatives of a number of professional societies.

Results And Conclusions: Precise terminology was developed in order to improve clarity in death discussion and debate. Critical events in the physiological sequences leading to cessation of neurological and/or circulatory function were constructed. It was agreed that death determination is primarily clinical and recommendations for preconditions, confounding factors, minimum clinical standards and additional testing were made. A single operational definition of human death was developed: 'the permanent loss of capacity for consciousness and all brainstem functions, as a consequence of permanent cessation of circulation or catastrophic brain injury'. In order to complete the project, in the next phase, a broader group of international stakeholders will develop clinical practice guidelines, based on comprehensive reviews and grading of the existing evidence.

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