Question

Describe the "whole brain oriented" definition of death.

Answer 1

Whole brain oriented definition of death includes higher brain and brainstem. Traditional definition of death expanded to included whole- brain death because irreversible loss of function happens in entire brain. But today we have technology to cardio pulmonary function. Regardless of these machines, brain stem will not function. The whole brain criteria of death differ from higher brain criteria of death because higher brain death looks at the functioning of cerebral cortex. For ODS, higher brain is damaged causing irreversible loss of consciousness but brain stem is largely intact. According to higher brain criteria the patient would be considered dead while they are not according to whole-brain criteria.