A patient declared brain dead on ventilator support continues to show cardiac activity and warm skin. Medico-legally, this state represents:

• A Molecular death, with all tissues still viable
• B Suspended animation permitting recovery
• C Apparent death requiring resuscitation
• D Somatic death of the individual despite survival of individual cells and tissues ✓

Explanation

Death proceeds in stages. Somatic (clinical) death is irreversible cessation of brain, circulatory and respiratory function, marking death of the individual as a whole. Individual cells and tissues survive for variable periods afterwards until molecular death sets in, which is why organs can be harvested for transplantation from brain dead ventilated donors. Apparent death and suspended animation imply potential reversibility, which does not apply once brain death criteria are fulfilled.

Reference: Parikh's Textbook of Medical Jurisprudence, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 7th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.