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Understanding Types and Criteria of Death

There are two main types of death: somatic and molecular. Somatic death is also known as clinical death and occurs when circulation, respiration, and brain function irreversibly stop. Molecular death is the death of individual cells and tissues, which takes place 1-2 hours after somatic death. The document also discusses different types of brain death and the key points of the Harvard criteria for determining death, which includes the absence of brain activity, reflexes, movement, and breathing. Finally, it provides the optimal timing for transplanting different organs after somatic death.

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Akshit Setia
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194 views2 pages

Understanding Types and Criteria of Death

There are two main types of death: somatic and molecular. Somatic death is also known as clinical death and occurs when circulation, respiration, and brain function irreversibly stop. Molecular death is the death of individual cells and tissues, which takes place 1-2 hours after somatic death. The document also discusses different types of brain death and the key points of the Harvard criteria for determining death, which includes the absence of brain activity, reflexes, movement, and breathing. Finally, it provides the optimal timing for transplanting different organs after somatic death.

Uploaded by

Akshit Setia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

FORENSIC MEDICINE

ASSIGNMENT II

1. What is Death? What are the types of Deaths?

Death is a condition in which there is


(i) Complete
(ii) Permanent
(iii) Irreversible
Loss of biological function which are required to sustain the life.
Death is not an event it is a process.
There is a progression from clinical death to brain death, biological death and
then cellular death.

There are two types of deaths according to the process


(i) Somatic Death
(ii) Molecular Death
(1) Somatic Death
 Aka Systemic death, clinical death
 It is based on the bishop’s tripod of the life
 i.e. Complete and Irreversible stoppage of:
(i) Circulation
(ii) Respiration
(iii) Brain function
(2) Molecular Death
 Aka cellular death
 Death of the cells and tissue individually which takes place usually
one to two hours after the stoppage of vital function i.e. after somatic
death.
 Brain Death
Is of 3 types:
o Cortical/Cerebral Death
 Intact brain stem
 Produces vegetative state
 Respiration continues
 Loss of power of perception by senses
 Causes:
(i) Cerebral hypoxia
(ii) Toxicity
(iii)Widespread brain injury
o Brain Stem Death
 Cerebrum may be intact
 No supply by stem functionally
 Loss of vital centres
May leads to cortical death if not cured timely
Causes:
(i) Raised intracranial pressure
(ii) Cerebral oedema
(iii)Intracranial haemorrhage
o Whole brain death:
 Permanent cessation of the functions of cerebrum cerebellum
and brain stem

2. What are the key points of Harvard method?

Harvard Criteria for determining the death:

1. Isoelectric EEG
 Confirmatory test
 No brain activity at all
2. Unreceptivity and Unresponsiveness
 Unaware of external applied stimuli and inner needs
 Unresponsive to most intense painful stimuli
3. No movement
 No muscular movement in response to stimuli for at least one hour
 Light SoundTouchPain
4. Apnoea
 Absence of breathing for at least 3 minutes without any external
aid.
5. Absence of elicitable reflexes
 Pupils are fixed and dilated and unresponsive to bright light
 No ocular movement and blinking of eyes
 Absence corneal and pharyngeal reflexes
 Stretch tendon reflex is absent

3. Give the different timing of different organ for transplant

 Heart
 Kidney
 Liver Immediate after somatic death
 Pancreas
 Lungs
 Cornea Within 6 hours of somatic death
 Skin Within 24 hours of somatic death
 Bone Within 48 hours of somatic death
 Blood vessels Within 72 hours of somatic death
Submitted By:
Akshit Setia
201722039
Section B

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