<unk>  is the permanent, irreversible, and complete loss of<unk>  function, including involuntary activity necessary to sustain life. It differs from persistent vegetative state, in which the person is alive and some autonomic functions remain. It is also distinct from comas as long as some<unk>  and bodily activity and function remain, and it is also not the same as the condition locked-in syndrome. A differential diagnosis can medically distinguish these differing conditions.<unk>  is used as an indicator of legal death in many jurisdictions, but it is defined inconsistently and often confused by the public. Various parts of the<unk>  may keep functioning when others do not anymore, and the term<unk> " has been used to refer to various combinations. For example, although one major medical dictionary considers<unk> " to be synonymous with "cerebral death" (death of the cerebrum), the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) system defines<unk>  as including the<unk> stem. The distinctions are medically significant because, for example, in someone with a dead cerebrum but a living<unk> stem, spontaneous breathing may continue unaided, whereas in whole-brain death (which includes<unk> stem death), only life support equipment would maintain ventilation. In certain countries, patients classified as<unk> -dead may legally have their organs surgically removed for organ donation.
Brain death
Death
Euthanasia
Brainstem death
Death of Michael Faherty
Death of Susie Long
Death of Edith Rodriguez
Clinical death