Brain Dead, Brain Absent, Brain Donors : Human Subjects or Human Objects?

From The Critics

Reviewer: Max Douglas Brown, JD(Rush University Medical Center)
Description: The book defines and distinguishes the concepts of death, brain death, and cerebral death according to medical and legal criteria established in various countries. It traces how the brain came to be designated as the critical organ in determining when death occurs. The various tests to determine brain death (electroencephalogram, blood flow, and pituitary function) are thoroughly explained and differentiated. It discusses the most significant related issues to the concept of brain death:transplantation, t he anencephalic child and its use in transplantation, and the use of fetal tissue in cases of Parkinson's disease.
Purpose: The author states that it is essential that the issue of reification (the change of the individual who is brain dead from human subject to a human object) be properly understood by the general public for the purpose of formulating and assisting both community responses and familial decisions.
Audience: The book is intended for the general public. It would be useful for any health care provider or health lawyer as a comprehensive compendium of medical literature on the topic of brain death. Significant court cases in the U.S. are discussed primarily from a medical rather than a legal perspective.
Features: Each chapter is followed by references and citations that are extensive and up-to-date. The book's index is complete and sufficiently cross referenced. The book portrays no discernible bias in ideology.
Assessment: The book offers a thorough review of medical literature pertaining to brain death written during the past two and a half decades. Its historical emphasis assures the librarian that this book will remain a useful reference for years to come.

Booknews

McCullagh (John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National U., Canberra) reviews the evolution of the concept of brain death, and evaluates both practical and ethical issues related to organ "harvesting" from brain-dead persons, and ancephalic infants, and brain tissue transplantation from fetuses. He asserts that the notion of "death" is ill-defined by doctors, and that the public is being kept out of an important discussion which needs to be addressed by society as a whole. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

4 Stars! from Doody