What is brain stem death or brain death?
Traditionally death was declared only when the heart stopped beating. Today the patient can be declared dead by measuring brain stem functions. Brain stem is a part of the central nervous system which if irreparably damaged, the patient stops breathing, other functions can no longer continue independently and the individual is dead. The heart may continue to function on ventilator and other support for a maximum up to 36-72 hours. This is the phase of brain death. In essence we have redefined death. It is during this period that organs can be retrieved for transplantation after proper consent.
