Uniform Determination of Death Act

The Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA) is a legal framework that defines death based on two main criteria: complete cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions, or the irreversible loss of all brain activity, including the brain stem. This law helps standardize when a person is considered legally dead across different states, guiding medical decisions, organ donation, and end-of-life care. It emphasizes that death can be established through observable signs or through irreversible brain function loss, ensuring consistent and ethical determinations in various medical and legal contexts.