Are Organ Donors Truly Dead Before Their Organs Are Taken?

Surprisingly, this is not a settled issue.

Before organ transplantation became possible, physicians made every effort to determine that death had occurred in order to protect the living from death-dealing mistakes. Death was declared only after all signs of life were gone—the body was cold, blue and stiff.

Now, death is often declared hastily in order to procure fresh, healthy organs for transplantation. Consequently, “death” is a far fuzzier subject than it once was.  Learn more:

Fact Sheet:  Are Organ Donors Truly Dead Before Their Organs Are Taken?

More details:  IS THERE MORAL CERTAINTY THAT "BRAIN DEAD" ORGAN DONORS ARE DEAD?

Medical doctors, scholars refute ‘brain death’ as legitimate criterion for real death

Neurologist exposes ‘brain death’ myth behind multi-billion-dollar organ transplant industry