Summaries / Resúmenes - Studia Moralia

278 NICANOR AUSTRIACOin Boston (U.S.A.) published an essay in which he argued that“brain death criteria confirm certain long-held philosophicalviews about the nature of death and the human soul withinCatholicism.” 4 Furton’s paper is the most recent and, probably,the strongest argument for the pro-brain death position writtenby a Catholic bioethicist.In this essay, I will respond to Furton’s thesis by showingthat the recent scientific data described by Dr. Alan Shewmonraise serious questions as to whether the currently dominant BDcriteria are, in fact, compatible with an authentic anthropologythat is faithful to the Catholic tradition. Shewmon, a Catholicphysician, professor and chief of pediatric neurology at UCLA,has written several seminal papers where he has challenged theBD criteria with clinical data that attacks the presuppositions ofthose who advocate BD. His argument is considered by many tobe the strongest challenge to the pro-brain death position.This paper is divided into six parts. First, I open with aphilosophical analysis of the concept of death. As others haveshown, any discussion of the validity of brain-based criteria fordeath must begin by distinguishing three distinct levels ofinquiry: the definition of death, diagnostic criteria to meet thisdefinition of death, and clinical tests to evaluate whether thesecriteria have been satisfied. Second, I present a historical sketchof the movement to change the criteria for death from the traditionalcardio-pulmonary criteria to brain-based criteria anddescribe the current state of the question in our society. Next, Isummarize the argument made by Dr. Alan Shewmon that haschallenged the consensus opinion that BD is in fact equivalent tothe death of the human individual. Fourth, I move to the papaladdress to the International Congress of the TransplantationSociety. In light of Shewmon’s critique, I suggest that questionsstill remain regarding the accuracy of the scientific and medicalfacts that are presupposed by both sides of the BD debate. Fifth,I summarize the line of reasoning used by Edward Furton todefend the validity of the BD criteria against Shewmon’s chal-4Edward J. FURTON, “Brain Death, the Soul, and Organic Life,” NationalCatholic Bioethics Quarterly 2 (2002): 455-470, p. 457.