PubMed · 8839201
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W F Haupt. 1996-01-15. [Brain death].. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8839201/
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TCD ultrasonography is a noninvasive means to study the cerebral vasculature. By varying the depth and angle of insonation of a pulsed sound wave, the direction and velocity profile of the cerebral arteries can be ascertained. This can be used to identify areas of focal stenosis and increased resistance and to estimate the adequacy of cerebral flow. TCD ultrasonography commonly is used in SAH to detect cerebral vasospasm. Many centers interpret rising velocities as increasing vessel narrowing and initiate medical strategies based on these values. TCD use in head trauma is less clearly defined. TCD ultrasonography is considered an acceptable confirmatory test for the determination of brain death. TCD ultrasonography is capable of studying dynamic cerebrovascular processes. By being able to determine vessel patency, TCD may become a useful adjuvant to thrombolytic therapy. Continuous monitoring of flow velocities and profiles along with testing to cerebrovascular reserve promises to be a future active area of research.
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In the past few years, the discussion about the right to kill severely ill patients for humanitarian reasons--once called euthanasia and after World War II in the German speaking countries as euphemism called 'aktive Sterbehilfe' (active help to die)--has become more intensive. Actually, only the Netherlands do officially practice euthanasia. But the variant that consists in putting a pharmaceutical at the patient's disposal in order to kill himself is very well known in other countries, e.g. in Switzerland, where the pressure on the legislator to also legalize euthanasia grows. Taking into account medico-ethical reasons, historical experiences, alarming euthanasia ideas in bioethics and social philosophy, the danger due to the impossibility to control the development in this field, and the insidious extension of euthanasia indications, the author rejects firmly the idea of legalized euthanasia. These problems are related to those that occur in fixing the moment of death of potential organ donors. A lack of organs in transplantation medicine should not lead physicians to explant organs from donors in a dying condition. For physicians who take care of potential organ donors and who have to look after their interests towards transplantation teams, it is often too difficult to cope with this task. Local ethical commissions should support them.