What are 'death criteria' for organ donation?

'Death criteria' refers to the medical standards established to determine when a person has met the conditions for brain death or circulatory death, which are essential for organ donation. These criteria provide a clear and standardized approach for healthcare professionals to assess the irreversible loss of all brain function or cessation of circulatory functions in a patient. This process is critical to ensure that organs are only recovered from individuals who have legally and ethically been declared deceased, making it safe and appropriate for transplantation.

The criteria include thorough clinical evaluations, neurologic examinations, and possible confirmatory tests to ensure that the diagnosis of death is accurate and reliable. By adhering to these medical standards, donor organs can be harvested in a manner that maximizes their viability for transplant recipients, ultimately aiding in saving lives.

Other choices, such as legal requirements for organ sales, dining and social criteria for families, or psychological assessments of donor families, do not relate directly to the medical determination required to establish death in the context of organ donation.