Author: Unknown
Publication: Unknown
Year: Unknown
Download: English
HOD Comments:
This article consists of three parts. The first is a discussion of the clinical criteria for diagnosing brain-death. The second part of the article deals with the position of the Israeli Chief Rabbinate with regard to brain-death. In 1985, after consultation with physicians, the Chief Rabbinate ruled that the current medical procedure for diagnosing brain-death was sufficient for determining a patient to be considered dead halachically, and therefore permit donating their vital organs. They did, however, require that a representative of the Chief Rabbinate be present for each individual case to ensure that proper halachic procedure was actually being followed. The third part of the article addresses the position of Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach.