Brain Death and Criteria of Death in Korea

Choi, Chang Rak

Abstract

The role of the physician in diagnosis of death is a relatively recent one. for the most part it began only toward the end of the eighteenth century in Korea as western countrie. The criteria for diagnosis of death traditionally has been cessation of the circulation and respiration. The current model definition proposed for the Unite State is : An individual who has sustained either(1) irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory function or irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain is dead. A determination of death must be made in a clearnce with accepted medical standards. Recently transplantation of organ has been popularlly performod in the wored. For this surgery brain death has been necessary process. Brain death is a condition widely recognized by philosophers, theologians, the public and the law. Criteria for the determination of brain death have been progressively refined for almost 30years. They involve clinical evidence of the loss of brain function and various periods of observation, which can often be stortened by confirmatory tests, particularly cerebral blood flow studies, evoked potential studies, CT and electro-encephalography. Prompt declaration of brain is therefore possible. It is important for physicians to offer the possibility of organ donation to the patient's family both because organs are desperately needed and because many families desire this. However, in korea these process is very difficult because many people and lower have thought criteria of death is stop of heart. I advice we need model algorithm for determination of brain death are presented to aid the development of protocols for individual and hospital use before liver transplatation in korea.