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Shemie SD, Wilson LC, Hornby L, Basmaji J, Baker AJ, Bensimon CM, Chandler JA, Chassé M, Dawson R, Dhanani S, Mooney OT, Sarti AJ, Simpson C, Teitelbaum J, Torrance S, Boyd JG, Brennan J, Brewster H, Carignan R, Dawe KJ, Doig CJ, Elliott-Pohl K, Gofton TE, Hartwick M, Healey A, Honarmand K, Hornby K, Isac G, Kanji A, Kawchuk J, Klowak JA, Kramer AH, Kromm J, LeBlanc AE, Lee-Ameduri K, Lee LA, Leeies M, Lewis A, Manara A, Matheson S, McKinnon NKA, Murphy N, Briard JN, Pope TM, Sekhon MS, Shanker JJS, Singh G, Singh J, Slessarev M, Soliman K, Sutherland S, Weiss MJ, Shaul RZ, Zuckier LS, Zorko DJ, Rochwerg B. A brain-based definition of death and criteria for its determination after arrest of circulation or neurologic function in Canada: a 2023 clinical practice guideline. Can J Anaesth 2023; 70:483-557. [PMID: 37131020 PMCID: PMC10203028 DOI: 10.1007/s12630-023-02431-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
This 2023 Clinical Practice Guideline provides the biomedical definition of death based on permanent cessation of brain function that applies to all persons, as well as recommendations for death determination by circulatory criteria for potential organ donors and death determination by neurologic criteria for all mechanically ventilated patients regardless of organ donation potential. This Guideline is endorsed by the Canadian Critical Care Society, the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses, Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society, the Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation (representing the Canadian Neurological Society, Canadian Neurosurgical Society, Canadian Society of Clinical Neurophysiologists, Canadian Association of Child Neurology, Canadian Society of Neuroradiology, and Canadian Stroke Consortium), Canadian Blood Services, the Canadian Donation and Transplantation Research Program, the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, the Nurse Practitioners Association of Canada, and the Canadian Cardiovascular Critical Care Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam D Shemie
- McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Decarie Blvd, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada.
- McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- MUHC Research Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | | | | | | | - Andrew J Baker
- Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Sonny Dhanani
- University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Owen T Mooney
- University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Transplant Manitoba Gift of Life Program, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Aimee J Sarti
- University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Christy Simpson
- Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Jeanne Teitelbaum
- McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Decarie Blvd, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
- McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - J Gordon Boyd
- Kingston General Hospital, Kingston, ON, Canada
- Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Kirk J Dawe
- Eastern Health, St. John's, NL, Canada
- Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Christopher J Doig
- University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | | | | | - Michael Hartwick
- University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew Healey
- Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network), Toronto, ON, Canada
- McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- William Osler Health System, Brampton, ON, Canada
| | - Kimia Honarmand
- Western University, London, ON, Canada
- London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada
| | | | - George Isac
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Aly Kanji
- McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Decarie Blvd, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
- McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Joann Kawchuk
- Saskatchewan Health Authority, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | | | - Andreas H Kramer
- University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Southern Alberta Organ & Tissue Donation Program, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Julie Kromm
- University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Allana E LeBlanc
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Canadian Association of Critical Care Nurses, London, ON, Canada
| | - Katarina Lee-Ameduri
- University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Laurie A Lee
- University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Murdoch Leeies
- University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Transplant Manitoba Gift of Life Program, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Canadian Critical Care Society, Markham, ON, Canada
| | - Ariane Lewis
- NYU Langone Medical Center, New York City, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Nicole K A McKinnon
- St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Peter Gilgan Center for Research and Learning, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - Thaddeus M Pope
- University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Mitchell Hamline School of Law, Saint Paul, MN, USA
- Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
- Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, USA
- University of Minnesota Center for Bioethics, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Mypinder S Sekhon
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Gurmeet Singh
- Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jeffrey Singh
- St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network), Toronto, ON, Canada
- University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marat Slessarev
- Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network), Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Karim Soliman
- Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
- Ontario Health (Trillium Gift of Life Network), Toronto, ON, Canada
- Lakeridge Health, Oshawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Matthew J Weiss
- Transplant Québec, Montreal, QC, Canada
- CHU de Québec - Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Randi Zlotnik Shaul
- St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lionel S Zuckier
- University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - David J Zorko
- St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Bram Rochwerg
- McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Canadian Critical Care Society, Markham, ON, Canada
- Canadian Critical Care Trials Group, Markham, ON, Canada
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Murphy NB, Hartwick M, Wilson LC, Simpson C, Shemie SD, Torrance S, Chandler JA. Rationale for revisions to the definition of death and criteria for its determination in Canada. Can J Anaesth 2023; 70:558-569. [PMID: 37131021 PMCID: PMC10203013 DOI: 10.1007/s12630-023-02407-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Clarity regarding the biomedical definition of death and the criteria for its determination is critical to inform practices in clinical care, medical research, law, and organ donation. While best practices for death determination by neurologic criteria and circulatory criteria were previously outlined in Canadian medical guidelines, several issues have arisen to force their reappraisal. Ongoing scientific discovery, corresponding changes in medical practice, and legal and ethical challenges compel a comprehensive update. Accordingly, the A Brain-Based Definition of Death and Criteria for its Determination After Arrest of Neurologic or Circulatory Function in Canada project was undertaken to a develop a unified brain-based definition of death, and to establish criteria for its determination after devastating brain injury and/or circulatory arrest. Specifically, the project had three objectives: (1) to clarify that death is defined in terms of brain functions; (2) to clarify how a brain-based definition of death is articulated; and (3) to clarify the criteria for determining if the brain-based definition is met. The updated death determination guideline therefore defines death as the permanent cessation of brain function and describes corresponding circulatory and neurologic criteria to ascertain the permanent cessation of brain function. This article explores the challenges that prompted revisions to the biomedical definition of death and the criteria for its determination and outlines the rationales underpinning the project's three objectives. By clarifying that all death is defined in terms of brain function, the project seeks to align guidelines with contemporary medicolegal understandings of the biological basis of death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas B Murphy
- Department of Medicine, Western University, 1151 Richmond St., London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada
- Department of Philosophy, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Michael Hartwick
- Divisions of Critical Care and Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Trillium Gift of Life, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | - Christy Simpson
- Department of Bioethics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Canadian Blood Services, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Sam D Shemie
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- MUHC Research Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Canadian Blood Services, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Simpson C, Lee-Ameduri K, Hartwick M, Shaul RZ, Kanji A, Healey A, Murphy NB, Pope TM. Navigating disagreement and conflict in the context of a brain-based definition of death. Can J Anaesth 2023; 70:724-735. [PMID: 37131031 PMCID: PMC10202992 DOI: 10.1007/s12630-023-02417-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we discuss situations in which disagreement or conflict arises in the critical care setting in relation to the determination of death by neurologic criteria, including the removal of ventilation and other somatic support. Given the significance of declaring a person dead for all involved, an overarching goal is to resolve disagreement or conflict in ways that are respectful and, if possible, relationship preserving. We describe four different categories of reasons for these disagreements or conflicts: 1) grief, unexpected events, and needing time to process these events; 2) misunderstanding; 3) loss of trust; and 4) religious, spiritual, or philosophical differences. Relevant aspects of the critical care setting are also identified and discussed. We propose several strategies for navigating these situations, appreciating that these may be tailored for a given care context and that multiple strategies may be helpfully used. We recommend that health institutions develop policies that outline the process and steps involved in addressing situations where there is ongoing or escalating conflict. These policies should include input from a broad range of stakeholders, including patients and families, as part of their development and review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christy Simpson
- Department of Bioethics, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
- Canadian Blood Services, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Katarina Lee-Ameduri
- St. Boniface Hospital, Reseau Compassion Network, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - Michael Hartwick
- Department of Medicine, Divisions of Critical Care and Palliative Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Trillium Gift of Life, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Randi Zlotnik Shaul
- Bioethics Department, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Aly Kanji
- McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Andrew Healey
- Trillium Gift of Life Network, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Nicholas B Murphy
- Departments of Medicine and Philosophy, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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