Vatican Newspaper Opens Up Hornet's Nest Over "Brain Death" and Organ Transplants

As I mentioned in the post below this has caused some controversy this week. Chiesa has a very good overview that pretty much clarifies what is going on. See Transplants and Brain Death. "L'Osservatore Romano" Has Broken the Taboo.

The article that has caused all the excitement has can be found here under the heading of The signs of death by Lucetta Scaraffia Translated from the 9/3/08 issue of

Also let me add this news report from Italy that has been translated at the Ratzinger Forum.

On brain death: A welcome discussion VATICAN CITY, Sept. 4 (Translated from ANSA) -

Even Joseph Ratzinger, when he was a cardinal, registered with an association of organ donors - a fact which may contribute to quell many fears expressed yesterday about a Sept. 3 article in L'Osservatore Romano which raised doubts about brain death as the medical criterion for death, and consequently, on the consequent practice of harvesting organs from brain-dead persons.

The item in the Vatican newspaper signed by Prof. Lucetta Scaraffia should be considered as a contribution in a debate that concerns Catholics and non-Catholics alike, according to various sources in the Roman curia who spoke about this since the item appeared. But the position of the Vatican has not changed. Rather, "The Catholic Church hopes," said Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragan, the Vatican 'health minister' as president of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers, "for more certainties about the definition of 'brain death', but it is not questioning it, much less does it intend to hinder organ donations, a field which the Church has always supported."

He continued: "One only has to search the Vatican archives to find an important commitment made by John Paul II and by Cardinal Ratzinger himself, the future Benedict XVI. Papa Wojtyla, in August 2000, delivered an address in which he confirmed recognition on the part of the Catholic Church of 'brain death'."

On that occasion, while pointing out that "The Church does not render scientific opinions" regarding the various parameters for ascertaining that death has occurred, John Paul II also underscored that nonetheless "it can be affirmed (that) the total and irreversible cessation of every brain activity" as a criterion for defining death, "if applied scrupulously, does not appear to contradict the essential elements of a correct anthropological concept [of death]".

At the time, Cardinal Ratzinger said, "It is proper to adhere, spontaneously and in full awareness, to the culture of organ transplantation and donation. I have, for years, been registered with an association of organ donors, and I always carry with me this document which states that (in the event of death) I offer my own organs to whoever may have use for it - it's an act of love." So was this all much ado about nothing? Actually, says Giovanni Maria Vian, editor of L'Osservatore Romano, the Scaraffia article - which should not be confused as an editorial statement of the newspaper - represents "an authoritative and interesting contribution that is very important on a sensitive question which it is possible to discuss calmly." He is echoed by expert consultants to the Pontifical Council for health, who underscore that "the question is complex, like those regarding euthanasia and biological testaments(about which) people are quite confused....

A continuing examination in depth is needed, but this cannot be done through the media." Cardinal Barragan recalled that the Church considers the medico-scientific definitions of death as dictated by the international scientific community which, depending on evolving research, "are then able to give us more certain criteria".

According to the latest norms, in order to conclude there is brain death - "total and irreversible cessation of all brain activity (in the cerebrum, cerebellum and the brain stem)" must be observed for at least six hours. Some scientists have warned that the public must not confuse 'brain death' with the 'vegetative state', as some critics have accused Prof. Scaraffia of doing.