Pobieranie narządów po zatrzymaniu krążenia. O nadrzędności neurologicznego kryterium śmierci nad krążeniowym – kwestie filozoficzne
Donation After Circulatory Determination of Death. About the Precedence of Neurological Criterion of Death over Circulatory Criterion – philosophical issues

Summary/Abstract: This two-part article concerns with bioethical issues associated with organ donationafter circulatory determination of death (DCDD). Part 2 is devoted to philosophicalproblems. I analyze three concepts of death, that identify the end of life witha) somatic disintegration of the organism, b) irreversible cessation of vital work ofself-preservation and c) irreversible loss of patient’s moral status. By referring tothese positions I argue that circulatory criterion of death is reliable only if cessationof circulation lasts long enough for brain death to occur. Taking this into account, itmight be supposed that the 5 minutes period of observation of cessation of circulationis not enough for patient’s death to take place.

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