Abstract

MELENDEZ MINOBIS, Mercedes et al. Ethical implications of brain death and organ transplants. Rev Cubana Invest Bioméd [online]. 2005, vol.24, n.1, pp.60-68. ISSN 0864-0300.

An assessment of the present criteria to define death and its link with organ transplant, as well as of some related bioethical aspects, was made. As the complexity of the topic makes difficult the bioethical elaboration of the problem and the definition and determination of death, it is necessary to establish a specific conception as integral as possible. According to the potential of applications that could be obtained from cellular and tissue therapy in a near future, it was deduced that the current concept of brain death as a criterion of human death for organ donation should be modified. It was considered that in the context of the present debate the adoption of one or the other position is transcendent, not only due to the importance of the topic, but to its implications as regards the design and implementation of policies or programs of great relevance in the social sphere

Keywords : Brain death; bioethics; transplants; organ donation.

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