Re: Re: -more info: what does bible say about organ donation: Ethical questio

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The (Christian) article pointed to below accepts the complete cessation brain function, including of the brain stem, as death (whether or not circulation is maintained by medication and respiration is continued mechanically), but warns believers to be vigilant about the slippery slope (moving toward declaring brain death when there is still brain stem activity in order to make more organs available).That is consistent with the medical and legal definition described here: http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/301/11/1192.pdfSome people who have posted have indicated that even if the brain, including the brain stem, has stopped functioning, their personal religious belief is that

the presence of mechanical respiration and circulation means they are still alive.Personally, I believe the cessation of brain functioning, including the brain stem, is death. I don't believe that a person with a functioning brain stem, even if there is no other brain activity, is dead.Leaving the definition aside, however, I would personally be willing for my organs to be used when I am in either category. My living will directs that I be taken off life support in the latter case (not true brain death). If that happens, certain organs would be destroyed in the process of reaching the medical and legal definition of death. Since I have chosen that I do not want my life artificially prolonged when I reach that state - I would really prefer that the body I no longer have use for serve as many people possible. (i.e. take my organs even though I am not legally dead.)I would not presume to make that decision

for anyone else (i.e. I do not want to change the definition of death), but I would like the possibility of declaring in advance, in a living will, that when I reach the state at which I have asked those closest to me to take me off life support (and I am going to die anyway) those individuals I have trusted with the authority to authorize the termination of life support also be granted the authority to make my organs immediately available for donation. Currently, I do not believe any transplant center would allow that. , Mom to 18 yo daughter UC 6/95, PSC 3/09From: Karyn

To: Sent: Friday, April 10, 2009 3:52:26 PMSubject: Re: -more info: what does bible say about organ donation: Ethical questio

Do people actually believe that a brain dead person who is kept breathing with machines is still alive? This is an honest question.

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> > I am a christian and I disagree. I think we are on dangerous ground if we try to play God and decide when someone should die. Brain dead or not they are still alive in my opinion. I can't really think of anywhere in the scriptures that would disagree with me. Just my 2 cents.

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> > From: scotty73ohio <scottandlizg@ ...>

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> > Sent: Wednesday, April 8, 2009 7:37:50 PM

> > Subject: Re: what does bible say about organ donation: Ethical question

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> > Thanks, Ian. It didn't occur to me that most Christians accept brain death as actual death. It seemed incongruent with other fights for life--even for those without brains. I've been struggling with the whole situation: some other family must lose something for me to live. It's hard.

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