Cross-Cultural Dimensions of the Problems of Brain Death and Organ Donation

Abstract

Some of the current scientific and technological achievements in fields of intensive care and organ transplantation cast doubts about validity of the concept of brain death. During the last decade, such doubts were expressed by such researchers as D. Shewmon; R. Veatch, S. Youngner, E. Bartlett, etc. At the same time we are witnessing rather wide spread of negative stereotypes in relation to the concept of "brain death" among public in general. It causes the decline in organ harvesting and rather often becomes a reason for seeking new arguments in favor of legitimacy of the brain death concept. Current controversies and disagreements on the issue of brain death cause the need for uniform criteria for neurological determination of death. However, the search for common criteria for brain death is faced with the problem of socio-cultural determination of death, significant differences in the interpretation of death, suffering, dying. Thus, the problem of the legitimacy of death is closely related not only with scientific and technological developments, but to the influence of socio-cultural contexts on the understanding and perception of different definitions and criteria of death. So, death of a human should be investigated not only as a biological event, but as a social and cultural construct as well. In this regard we are going: - To use procedures of mapping for presenting positions and interests of different stakeholders in the field of harvesting and use of human organs for transplantation. These maps will allow to present different existing cultural traditions, as well as views of medical professionals, philosophers and lay people on donation of organs for transplant purposes, understanding of the concept of brain death, attitudes towards biomedical professionals involved in transplantological practices; - to trace and to evaluate practical and moral consequences of these positions (and of application of the corresponding biomedical technologies) on provision of health care and protection of universal human values and rights; - to discuss different possibilities and to share experience of moral and legal regulation in the area. Study was carried out with financial support from Russian Science Foundation, Project No. 17-18-01444.