Question

A harvard group definition of biological death includes the criteria of:

a. only eye response is reflexive eye blink.
b. failure to move for 1 minute and failure to breathe for 3 minutes after removal from ventilator.
c. lack of electrical activity throughout entire brain and spinal cord.
d. heart-beat rate of 0 per minute for 10 consecutive minutes.

Answer 1

C. The brain is very sensitive to a lack of oxygen. With no electrical activity in the brain or spinal cord, it is likely the patient is deceased. Historically, lack of electrical activity in the brain has indicated death for a patient.