Pope encourages scientists to define "brain death"

Pope encourages scientists to define "brain death"

http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=35044

"Pope John Paul II has given his encouragement to organ transplants, while calling for more precise means of establishing that the donor is dead before vital organs are removed.

In a letter to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, made public by the Vatican on February 3, the Pontiff says that the Church has consistently supported "the practice of transplanting organs from deceased persons." The Church has also "encouraged the free donation of organs," he adds, while emphasizing "the ethical conditions for such donation."

The efforts of a task force set up by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, which is studying the question of when death can be medically established, are very important, the Holy Father writes. Organ transplants, he continues, are acceptable only when they are conducted in a manner "so as to guarantee respect for life and for the human person."

Catholic physicians and moralists have been engaged in a sharp debate in recent years over the question of determining the death of a potential organ donor. If vital organs are removed before death has occurred, moralists point out, then the doctors performing the transplant are causing the death of the donor. On the other hand, organs are ordinarily suitable for donation only if they are removed from a donor whose body is still functioning. For this reason, some Catholic moralists have argued that the transplant of vital organs can never be justified.

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Strange that this should come out now.

...has almost atrophied.

This is a really enligntened question. The question of brain death is a valuable one to be tackled by such a religious / ethical body.

There are various definitions, but coming from the religious viewpoint it will carry more weight.

I wondered how long it would take for this to surface.

Just look at the current attitudes regarding AIDS, contraception, condom use and gays. If that isn't brain dead I don't know what is.

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I think we should wait until he's buried before we examine that question.

After all, didn't he weigh-in on enough of these cases already, and now he finally concedes, "Well, maybe scientists should look at this."

What about the poor family of the brain-dead woman in Florida whose corpse has been flogged for decades?

What about the sleeping corpse of Audrey Santos which has become a Catholic tourist attraction for those seeking Catholic "Miracles?"

Why should His Silliness The Poop be denied the same opportunity as these others?

This is not an attack on Catholics or Catholicism, but just on this particular individual throw-back to the 14th century who calls himself John Paul.

His body is wasted, no transplant in the world is going to help him.

What I think he's saying - and quite agree with - is that public lust for body parts should have no bearing on the decision to declare someone brain dead.

The Catholic Church does not support what has been done to Terri Schiavo in Florida. We actually have a very realistic view of death and the use of extreme measures.

The fact that the article begins with the words about encouraging scientists tells the story in a nutshell.

The Pope's not asking anything. He's out of it and on a respirator. So somebody's speaking through him.

My personal opinion: the pope's on life support, no possibility of recovery, somebody wants to pull the plug. Perhaps to avoid a major controversy.

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I don't.

Something to contemplate.

Just a guess.

Actually, as a person who was raised Catholic but moved on to other things, I care too. I need to know what the Church's position is on these things because my elderly Catholic relatives will expect the Church's positions to be honored in this and other matters I may be called upon to decide in thier final days.

...are the same that couldn't care less what you think.

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the eyes have popped out and there is blood and mucus everywhere, you can be pretty sure that the guy is brain dead. It is a good thing to take the organs quickly before the brain stem dies, too. PS I am a scientist so the Pope can take this as a fact.

....the following:

<snip>

The clinical guidelines for this assessment are summarized in the following paragraphs:

1. Absence of Cerebral Function
Essential to the diagnosis of brain death is that the cause of coma be known. Clinical testing must reveal no evidence of cerebral function. Patients must be in a deep coma without any response to verbal or painful stimuli. All reversible causes of coma must be ruled out including hypothermia (core body temperature less than 33° C), drug intoxication, hypotension, neuromuscular blockade, and sedating medicines. The period of observation required to confirm the diagnosis of brain death will vary according to the specific clinical circumstances. A longer period is recommended when the cause of coma is not known or the potential for recovery is uncertain. Spinal reflexes, various spontaneous movements, and specific posturing may persist in patients with brain death.

A confirmatory test may be attempted for patients in whom clinical testing is consistent with brain death. A confirmatory test is mandatory for patients in whom complete brain stem evaluation cannot be performed. Confirmatory tests may include transcranial Doppler ultrasonography, electroencephalogram (EEG), cerebral angiography, and isotope angiography.

An isoelectric EEG is not mandatory, but when used in conjunction with the clinical criteria for brain death, it provides confirmatory evidence of brain death. Because hypothermia or drug intoxication can also produce an isoelectric EEG, this test cannot be used as the sole criterion for the diagnosis of brain death.

2. Absence of Brain Stem Function
Clinical tests must also confirm the absence of all brain stem reflexes including pupillary size and reactivity, and corneal, oculovestibular, gag, and cough reflexes. An apnea test must demonstrate an absence of all spontaneous respiratory drive. It is recommended that physicians familiar with the performance of this test be consulted when appropriate. There must be apnea long enough for the PaCO2 to become greater than 60 mm Hg in the absence of metabolic alkalosis. The test of absent breathing should be performed following hyperoxygenation on 100% oxygen on mechanical ventilation. Adequate circulation should be maintained during the entire apnea test.
<more>

<link> http://www.clevelandclinic.org/bioethics/policies/braindeath.html

This is still an ongoing question as we learn more about the body and brain, even within the most atheist of circles. It's not a bad question to ponder and continue to study.

and you should be legally declared brain dead.