Determination of Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria – The World Brain Death Project

The World Brain Death Project was undertaken to establish minimum standards for diagnosing brain death/death by neurologic criteria (BD/DNC) in children and adults across a broad range of settings and clinical circumstances. In this Q&A, senior authors of the 2020 project report join an editorialist and bioethicist to discuss the project. Featuring interviews with Gene Sung, MD, MPH, of the University of Southern California; Ariane Lewis, MD, of NYU Langone Medical Center; Robert Tasker, MD, of the University of Cambridge; and Robert D. Truog, MD, MA, of Harvard University. Click https://ja.ma/3k7mZau to read the full report. Topics discussed in this interview: 0:00 Introduction 1:32 Background on the World Brain Death Project 3:26 Initial impressions of the manuscript 6:40 Supplements 8:33 Takeaways for clinicians about Brain Death/Death By Neurologic Criteria 11:08 The history of brain death determination in the US 13:26 Determination of brain death in the US versus the UK 16:13 The complexity of the brain death determination process 19:41 Irreversible apneic unconsciousness 24:11 The apnea test and diagnosis of brain death 26:16 Reaching consensus with many international societies 27:40 Communicating the idea of brain death with families and loved ones 29:53 Clarity around BD/DNC definitions 32:36 How do neurologists, critical care physicians, and clinicians use this manuscript?