Is Brain Dead, Dead Enough?

How does one define death? Can it be defined as when one stops living? Are there different stages of death? In what way is one able to tell when one human is so dead that they are unable to return? In the case of a newborn child, who cannot make decisions for themselves, is it the doctor or the parents that are permitted to determine when the child can be pronounced dead? One must ask themselves all of these questions when dealing with the life of an anencephalic baby. Anencephalic babies are born with beating hearts, and the ability to breathe and blink. However, they have no present upper brain. The fine line between determining if these characteristics classify the child as dead or alive is where the controversy begins. Multiple laws and cases have been presented over this subject but nothing has ever made it far enough to be passed. Numerous infants and toddlers die each year waiting for organs that never come. If one child, who is going to die a short, painful death, is able to save children who could live a long fulfilling life then they should be allowed to . When ones fetus is given a life altering diagnosis of anencephaly one must decide whether they are going to make the best of the situation or ignore it all together. One should take control of the situation. The difference between life and death for anencephalic infants is that these infants are already dead. By utilizing their bodies for their organs one is ending the infants suffering, and in turn doing the humane thing.

Anencephaly is a “unique clinical condition in which babies would never experience consciousness”. One thousand to two thousand children are born with anencephaly each year. Anencephaly can be determined early on in the pregnancy. Sever...

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