The Relevance of Irreversible Loss of Brain Function as a Reliable Sign of Death.

Background: There is an ongoing need for clear explanation of the diagnostic entity called "irreversible loss of brain function" (ILBF), as the absolute reliability of this diagnosis and its significance continue to be widely misunderstood. The determination of death as an objective medical-scientific matter is often not clearly distinguished from various other aspects of death, such as its metaphysical and cultural aspects and the ways in which the living deal with the dead.

Methods: This review is based on articles retrieved by a selective literature search in the PubMed database and on guidelines and standardized diagnostic protocols from Germany and abroad.