Antropología y criterios neurológicos de muerte

Abstract

The article studies the anthropologic statute of the “brain-dead” patient. Though most of the experts thin k that these people are actually dead, some authors assume that because the organic functions are still present in these people, it is hard to determine their death. Supported by aristothelic anthropology, the article defends the idea that it is possible to consider the physiologic remanent events as “life” , but “vegetative life”, absolutely and irreversibly separated from the sensitives and intelectual faculties. In addition, this situation is considered as a state of inviability for the patient, because it entails the total and irreversible loss of the unity of the person.

Then, it is possible to affirm that, at the current state of the technology, death –if determined by neurologic criteria- is not compatible with the soul-body union. So vital phenomena exposed in the corpses aren’t human life itself, but simple vital residual dynamism, supported in artificial way.