[Death criteria - now and in the future].

Death can be pronounced on both circulatory and brain criteria. In both cases, irreversible loss of brain function is essential in understanding finale death, as irreversible loss of breathing - a brainstem function - is mandatory. Brain function ceases irreversibly as a consequence of lack of blood supply to the brain, caused by circulatory arrest or by raised intracranial pressure. Brain function is central in death, which must be reflected in a future death criterion, stated in WHO´s new death criterion based on irreversible loss of capacity for consciousness and loss of brainstem function.

[Treatment of cardiac arrest in potential organ donors creates ethical conflicts]. / Hjertestopbehandling af potentielle organdonorer skaber etiske konflikter.

This article describes the results of an interview study on the ethical issues related to treating cardiac arrest in potential organ donors in Denmark. The medical background and the Danish guidelines relevant to the issue are described. The results from the interview study are then summarized and analyzed from an ethical perspective in order to clarify the ethical issues and value conflicts experienced by health personnel in this situation. It is recommended that the ethical components in the decision-making process and the dilemmatic nature of the situation are made transparent.