Date of Completion
2015
Document Type
Honors College Thesis
Department
Philosophy
Thesis Type
Honors College, College of Arts and Science Honors
First Advisor
Don Loeb
Second Advisor
Mark Moyer
Third Advisor
Sally Bliss
Keywords
death, bioethics, medical ethics, brain death, organ procurement
Abstract
A philosophical investigation into the definition of "death" and the best criterion for determining that "death" so defined has occurred. This thesis project looks into the three most prominent theories about the best criterion for death determination: the whole-brain criterion, the circulatory-respiratory criterion and the higher-brain criterion. Following a critical analysis of the arguments for and against each criterion and some accounting for special practical issues, especially the need for procurable organs, a recommendation is put forth for a two-pronged public policy that recognizes the important difference between a human being's biological death and the loss of that which is especially important about a human being's life.
Creative Commons License
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Recommended Citation
Palermo, Brittney Jean, "The Definition and Determination of Death" (2015). UVM Honors College Senior Theses. 59.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/hcoltheses/59