Brain death criteria

Brain death occurs when the brain has permanently lost all function, including the brainstem, which controls essential life-sustaining activities like breathing and heartbeat regulation. Diagnosis involves thorough testing to confirm an irreversible absence of neurological activity, including unresponsive coma, lack of brain reflexes, and unresponsive to stimuli, often supported by tests like EEG or imaging. Once brain death is confirmed based on strict medical criteria, it is considered legal death in many jurisdictions. This determination is critical for ethical decisions about organ donation and to guide end-of-life care.