Why does the use of neurological criteria remain controversial?
As mentioned above, when a person suffers total loss of brain function, the heart may continue to beat with the assistance of mechanical ventilatory support. In such cases, this artificial support may cause the victim to appear alive visually and to the touch. Medical evidence, indicated by the four signs listed above, shows that this is not the case. In short, there is no reason for controversy. The use of neurological criteria makes certain that life has ceased.
