THE INTERSECTION OF PHILOSOPHY AND MEDICINE IN THE BRAIN DEATH DEBATE (I): THE PHILOSOPHICAL ARGUMENT FOR THE EQUIVALENCE OF BRAIN DEATH AND HUMAN DEATH

The debate on brain death as equivalent to human death involves complex philosophical and medical dimensions. Initially guided by scientific criteria, the discussion now incorporates philosophical arguments questioning whether brain death genuinely signifies the end of human life. Key contributions from various commissions highlight the role of the brain in maintaining the organism's integrative functions, but philosophers argue this extends beyond empirical medical knowledge. This interdisciplinary debate stresses the need for philosophical and ethical insights, alongside medical understanding, to fully grasp the implications of defining death.