Brain dead (thing)

To be considered brain dead a person must:

• have a known cause of brain death so that any patient with a reversible condition (such as hypothermia or drug overdose) is not declared brain dead accidentally
• have no brain function
• have no brain stem reflexes (determined by clinical tests, the patient cannot breathe, cough,swallow, or blink, etc.)
• have no voluntary movements, such as gripping or making sounds
• be apneic (not breathing on their own) and supported by a ventilator (breathing machine)

These conditions must persist when the patient is tested again at a later time.

Brain death is final. There is no recovery. The person may look peaceful, or like they are in a coma, but they are technically dead and will die without life support systems.

Reference: http://www.lhsc.on.ca/transplant/