Neurological Death from a Bioethical Point of View

Submitted by the Centre for Health Care Ethics

Since the introduction of brain death in 1968, questions have persisted about defining death in terms of loss of brain function.  Traditionally, death had been defined and diagnosed according to circulatory criteria (i.e. the cessation of heartbeat and respiration). The introduction of life-sustaining technologies such as mechanical ventilation made it possible to sustain vital signs indefinitely in patients who had permanently lost the capacity for experiential life. Neuroscience has made considerable progress over the last fifty years and has raised new questions about the clinical criteria used in determining brain death. There is currently no legal definition of death in Canada and its determination remains entirely a matter of medical judgement. However, the concept of death must remain partly a matter of values. What about us matters so much that its loss marks the transition from life to death? Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy at Lakehead University, Dr. Richard Maundrell, will be exploring the concept of neurological death as the irreversible loss of consciousness. “Brain death has historically been understood as irreversible coma, but coma involves the loss of consciousness and consciousness is a phenomenon that is not yet well understood.” According to Maundrell, “Consciousness is by definition a subjective notion and, as such, remains resistant to scientific investigation… when someone is conscious, there will be brain activity, but [brain activity] does not necessarily mean they are conscious.” These and other pressing ethical issues will be the subject of discussion for October’s Encounters in Bioethics session: “Neurological Death: Looking Back, Looking Ahead” presented by Dr. Richard Maundrell, PhD. He will explore these ideas with examples from emerging research that raise important new questions to identify both opportunities and obstacles for the future. Lakehead University Centre for Health Care Ethics invites everyone to this free virtual talk taking place on Thursday, October 29, 2020 from 12:00-1:00pm (ET), via ZOOM link: https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/j/94090075736. For further information please email chce@lakeheadu.ca or call 343-8126.