Preferred term: Death by Neurological Criteria (DNC)
Irreversible cessation of cerebral and brain stem function; determined by clinical assessment of neurological responses to standardized stimuli. The diagnosis may be supported by testing which demonstrates absence of electrical activity or blood flow to the brain. A brain dead person is dead, although his or her cardiopulmonary functioning may be artificially maintained for some time.
(Alliance Terminology & Data Resources May 2021)
Brain death occurs when the brain is totally and irreversibly non-functional. Brain death is caused by not enough blood supply of oxygen which causes the brain cells to die.
(Organdonor.gov April 2020)
Irreversible cessation of cerebral and brain stem function; characterized by absence of electrical activity in the brain, blood flow to the brain, and brain function as determined by clinical assessment of responses. A brain dead person is dead, although his or her cardiopulmonary functioning may be artificially maintained for some time.
(OPTN Glossary May 2021)