March 29, 2002

When the Brain Dies, but the Heart Keeps Beating

To the Editor:

Peter Monaghan's article "The Unsettled Question of Brain Death" (February 22) points out facts of which many people contemplating signing organ-donor cards may be unaware. In most organ donations, organs are removed from individuals declared "brain dead" while the donor's heart continues to beat. Although the term "living cadaver" has been coined to refer to such individuals, it is unclear why they should be labeled cadavers.

One position is that of James L.

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