Identification of the Brain Dead Donor

The determination of brain death criteria has been the cornerstone of organ donation since 1968 when the Ad Hoc Committee at Harvard established medical definitions. It continues to stand the test of time as a means to establish medical and legal criteria for all transplant professionals in the field to rely upon and maintain the public’s trust in the organ procurement system. This chapter reviews the origins of these criteria as well as the current application of neurologic criteria to determine brain death. It further reviews updated guidelines from the neurological professional community affirming these criteria and conduct of the brain death determination.

Keywords: Brain Dead Donor, Organ Donation, Organ Procurement, Transplantation Ethics.