Fernando D. Goldenberg
Fernando D. Goldenberg
Professor of Neurology; Director, Neuroscience Critical Care; Co-Director Comprehensive Stroke Center
University of Chicago
Research Project
Death: From Philosophy to Medical Practice and the Law
Project Team:
2022 – 2023
Damien Hirst, The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, 1991. © Damien Hirst & Science Ltd. DACS, London / ARS, NY 2020.
Key Question
In what ways do the medical, legal, and philosophical definitions of death diverge, and with what consequences?
Project Summary
This project will complete a manuscript about the medical and philosophical aspects of death. The project will also convene an interdisciplinary group of experts to disentangle and potentially reconcile longstanding medical and legal debates about the neurological standard for determining brain death. The research team will be joined by the medical ethicist John Lizza as a Visiting Fellow.
This project continues the work of the Making Progress on Death project by supporting a Visiting Fellowship for John Lizza, who served as the keynote speaker at the earlier project's 2021 conference. During his residency Lizza will continue the work that the research team has been doing with the goal of publishing a book on death and helping to complete a manuscript related to the intersection between medical and philosophical aspects of death. He will be on sabbatical leave from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, where he is a Professor of Philosophy, during Spring Term 2023 (January – May 2023). His fellowship at the Neubauer Collegium will coincide with the time of his sabbatical leave. The research team is also aspiring to distill particular points of disagreement from the presentations at the 2021 conference, with the further goal of reconvening participants for discussion of those issues in early 2023. The aim is to see if the group can work towards or achieve consensus on any points.
Topics
Research Team
Christos Lazaridis
Christos Lazaridis
Associate Professor of Neurocritical Care, Departments of Neurology and Surgery (Neurosurgery)
University of Chicago
John Lizza
Lainie Friedman Ross
Lainie Friedman Ross
Carolyn and Matthew Bucksbaum Professor of Clinical Medical Ethics; Associate Director, MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics; Co-Director, Institute for Translational Medicine
University of Chicago
Project Narrative
Carousel with 3 slides shown at a time. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate, or the slide dot buttons at the end to jump to slides.
Refinements in the Organism as a Whole Rationale for Brain Death
Discussion
Refinements in the Organism as a Whole Rationale for Brain Death
This working group came together to discuss the ongoing controversy surrounding brain death and whether it is equivalent to human death.
A New Defense of Brain Death as the Death of the Human Organism
Discussion
A New Defense of Brain Death as the Death of the Human Organism
This working group came together to discuss a paper on the challenges of equating brain death with the death of a human being.
A Legal Fiction with Real Consequence
Discussion
A Legal Fiction with Real Consequence
This working group discussed a paper by Syd Johnson on the question of health coverage for living patients on life support.
Beyond the Apnea Test
Discussion
Beyond the Apnea Test
This working group came together to discuss considerations of consent during exams to determine death.
Death and Consensus Liberalism
Discussion
Death and Consensus Liberalism
This group came together to discuss the practical implications of theories of public reason, which propose moral constraints on political action.
How Many Ways Can You Die?
Discussion
How Many Ways Can You Die?
This working group came together to ponder challenges to the mainstream bioethical position of death in the context of brain death.
Brain Death as the End of a Human Organism as a Self-moving Whole
Discussion
Brain Death as the End of a Human Organism as a Self-moving Whole
This working group came together to discuss the biophilosophical justification for the idea that brain death is the end of a human organism as a self-moving whole.
Making Progress on Death: Towards an Updated Normative Framework
Conference
Making Progress on Death: Towards an Updated Normative Framework
Leading health and legal experts gathered to reconsider the Neurological Standard for Declaration of Death.
Carousel with 3 slides shown at a time. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate, or the slide dot buttons at the end to jump to slides.
Refinements in the Organism as a Whole Rationale for Brain Death
Discussion
Refinements in the Organism as a Whole Rationale for Brain Death
This working group came together to discuss the ongoing controversy surrounding brain death and whether it is equivalent to human death.
A New Defense of Brain Death as the Death of the Human Organism
Discussion
A New Defense of Brain Death as the Death of the Human Organism
This working group came together to discuss a paper on the challenges of equating brain death with the death of a human being.
A Legal Fiction with Real Consequence
Discussion
A Legal Fiction with Real Consequence
This working group discussed a paper by Syd Johnson on the question of health coverage for living patients on life support.
Beyond the Apnea Test
Discussion
Beyond the Apnea Test
This working group came together to discuss considerations of consent during exams to determine death.
Death and Consensus Liberalism
Discussion
Death and Consensus Liberalism
This group came together to discuss the practical implications of theories of public reason, which propose moral constraints on political action.
How Many Ways Can You Die?
Discussion
How Many Ways Can You Die?
This working group came together to ponder challenges to the mainstream bioethical position of death in the context of brain death.
Brain Death as the End of a Human Organism as a Self-moving Whole
Discussion
Brain Death as the End of a Human Organism as a Self-moving Whole
This working group came together to discuss the biophilosophical justification for the idea that brain death is the end of a human organism as a self-moving whole.
Carousel with 3 slides shown at a time. Use the Previous and Next buttons to navigate, or the slide dot buttons at the end to jump to slides.
Making Progress on Death: Towards an Updated Normative Framework
Conference
Making Progress on Death: Towards an Updated Normative Framework
Leading health and legal experts gathered to reconsider the Neurological Standard for Declaration of Death.
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