[A complete and precise reformulation of human death].

INTRODUCTION

Today, a very active debate exists about the concept and determination of death. The lack of both an integrating rationale and a consistent and precise formulation to approach such a fundamental issue has been notable. However, a contribution regarding both aspects is indispensable to overcome inconsistencies affecting current death concepts.

DEVELOPMENT

It is argued in this article why a sufficiently defined 'consciousness-organism-as-a-whole' system and its critical metafunction determines the neurological standard for a complete and precise reformulation of human death. This metafunction cannot be reduced to any of the particular functions of the system. It characterizes the highest hierarchical level of qualitative organization in the human organism. It defines the criticality of the system and the ontological level pertinent to the definition of death. Human death is 'both the irreversible loss of consciousness (considering its three anatomical and physiological components), and, inherently and inseparably, the loss of the capacity of the organism to function as a whole'.

CONCLUSIONS

It is argued why the rationale supporting this definition overcomes the problems posed by either currently accepted conceptions or by those competing to gain acceptance. Some of the implications of this re-approach in the intersection of neurology with other disciplines are considered.