glossary

death

Definition death

deathhol

death n. absence of vital functions. Medically, death used to be defined as permanent cessation of the heart beat. More recently emphasis has been switched to brain death, defined as permanent functional death of the centres in the brainstem that control the breathing, pupillary, and other vital reflexes. Usually two independent medical opinions are required before brain death is agreed, but organs such as kidneys may then legally be removed for transplantation surgery before the heart has stopped.