Reader response: Determination of death by neurologic criteria around the world
Nitin K.Sethi, Associate Professor of Neurology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical Center (New York, NY)
Submitted June 26, 2020
I read the article by Lewis et al.1 with interest. We still lack worldwide consensus on determination of death by neurologic criteria/brain death (DNC/BD). While achieving international consensus would be ideal, I disagree with the authors’ recommendations that a worldwide consensus be reached on the minimum standards for DNC/BD. We should not compromise on the standards as laid out in the AAN position statement on BD and its determination.2 Compromising the standards to accommodate different countries’ medical, religious, and societal ideal places us on a slippery slope as criteria may be “loosened” to meet the demand for organs in developing countries. If that happens, we risk the loss of public trust and other insurmountable problems.
Disclosure
The author reports no relevant disclosures. Contact journal@neurology.org for full disclosures.
References
Lewis A, Bakkar A, Kreiger-Benson E, et al. Determination of death by neurologic criteria around the world. Neurology 2020 Epub Jun 23.
Russell JA, Epstein LG, Greer DM, et al. Brain death, the determination of brain death, and member guidance for brain death accommodation requests: AAN position statement. Neurology 2019;92:304.
I read the article by Lewis et al.1 with interest. We still lack worldwide consensus on determination of death by neurologic criteria/brain death (DNC/BD). While achieving international consensus would be ideal, I disagree with the authors’ recommendations that a worldwide consensus be reached on the minimum standards for DNC/BD. We should not compromise on the standards as laid out in the AAN position statement on BD and its determination.2 Compromising the standards to accommodate different countries’ medical, religious, and societal ideal places us on a slippery slope as criteria may be “loosened” to meet the demand for organs in developing countries. If that happens, we risk the loss of public trust and other insurmountable problems.
Disclosure
The author reports no relevant disclosures. Contact journal@neurology.org for full disclosures.
References