Robert spaemann brain death test

By Paul A. Byrne, Cicero G. Coimbra, Robert Spaemann, and Mercedes Arzu Wilson
 

On February 3-4, the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, in coop­eration with the World Organization for the Family, hosted a meeting at the Vatican entitled "The Signs of Death." This essay is based on the papers that were submitted to the Pontifical Academy as well as the discussions that took place during those two days.
The meeting was convened at the request of Pope John Paul II to re­assess the signs of death and verify, at a purely scientific level, the validity of brain-related criteria for death, enter­ing into the contemporary debate of the scientific community on this issue.

In a message to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, made public at the February meeting, the Holy Father said that the Church has consistently supported "the practice of transplant­ing organs from deceased persons." However, he cautioned that