Religious and Secular Death: A Parting of the Ways

Abstract

Most organized religions have indicated a level of support for organ donation including the diagnosis of death by the brain criterion. Organ donation is seen as a gift of love and fits within a communitarian ethos that most religions embrace. The acceptance of the determination of death by the brain criterion, where it has been explained, is reconciled with religious views of soul and body by using a notion of integration. Because the soul may be seen as that which integrates the human body, in the absence of any other signs of human functioning, loss of integration is considered to be an indication that soul and body have separated. To some extent this view would seem to be informed by an Aristotelian notion of the soul, but it fits well enough with religious notions of the person continuing after death. There have been several developments internationally that indicate that the acceptance of so-called 'brain death' by organized religions has been challenged by new developments including the acceptance of a lesser standard than loss of all brain function and a rejection by the US President's Council on Bioethics of the notion of loss of integration as an explanation of death by the brain criterion.

Brain Death and Islam

“…24 Christian denominations have tended to support the diagnosis of death by brain criteria, but debate exists about whether the mode of being view expressed by the US President's Council on Bioethics is suffi cient given that the loss of integration view predominates in Christianity, an idea fi rst accepted as doctrine by the Council of Vienne in 1311 to 1312. 25,26 Th e modern Christian view seems to be based on a willingness to accept that loss of all brain function is sufficient evidence that the surviving body is no longer integrated with the soul. 25 Th is view was most clearly articulated by Pope John Paul II in 2000 when he acknowledged that medical criteria cannot determine "the exact moment of a person's death" but are valid "as a scientifically secure means of identifying the biologic signs that a person has indeed died."…”

“…25,26 Th e modern Christian view seems to be based on a willingness to accept that loss of all brain function is sufficient evidence that the surviving body is no longer integrated with the soul. 25 Th is view was most clearly articulated by Pope John Paul II in 2000 when he acknowledged that medical criteria cannot determine "the exact moment of a person's death" but are valid "as a scientifically secure means of identifying the biologic signs that a person has indeed died." 27 He further stated that "for ascertaining the fact of death, namely the complete and irreversible cessation of all brain activity if rigorously applied, does not seem to conflict with the essential elements of a sound anthropology."…”

“…27 He further stated that "for ascertaining the fact of death, namely the complete and irreversible cessation of all brain activity if rigorously applied, does not seem to conflict with the essential elements of a sound anthropology." 25,27 Pope Benedict XVI subsequently expanded on this by stating:…”

Loss of faith in brain death: Catholic controversy over the determination of death by neurological criteria

“…38 For example, Tonti-Filippini has argued that neurological criteria cannot be fulfilled by medical history and simple clinical tests alone but must also involve 'imaging of blood flow to the brain'. 39 This response does not threaten the conceptual basis of the diagnosis of death prior to organ transplantation but constitutes a serious challenge to current practice;…”

Donation after Brain Death versus Donation after Circulatory Death: Lung Donor Management Issues

“…9 As a result, controversies exist around the acceptable definitions of death 10,11 and the use of clinical testing rather than neuroimaging, as well as variabilities in the acceptance of organ donation depending on cultural and religious traditions. 11,12 In most countries, the consent for organ donation is via next-of-kin consent, though some European countries have presumed consent to organ donation enshrined in law (opt-out legislation). Despite the existing controversies, DBD is a recognized and ethically accepted method of withdrawing artificial life support from a patient.…”