Brain Death and Organ Transplantation

Abstract

When faced with mortality people tend to turn to their religious heritage, even if they are secularized. Ethical issues are deeply influenced by the religious background of our societies. In this essay we wish to examine the concept of death from a Jewish religious perspective. With the emergence of brain death criteria driven by the advances in medical technology, Jewish religious interpretation adjusted to take into account the possibilities of modern medical technology. While traditionalist elements cling to older interpretations, a process of ethical evolution, similar to that in other societies, has led to the widespread acceptance of brain death criteria for the purpose of organ donation in Israel.