[Criteria and diagnosis of brain death].

"Brain death" ist the irreversible loss of function of the whole brain. The syndrome is identical with individual death. The correct determination of brain death is important as further treatment makes no sense and as tissue donation now can be taken into account. The recommendations of the scientific advisory board of the German General Medical Council for determination of brain death from 1986 as well as the own experiences with the "brain death syndrome" and the preparations for tissue donation are discussed.