The reason i ask is re organ donation.
2006-11-06 14:47:03 · 12 answers · asked by purple*princess 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Medicine
Western science and medicine do not recognize a soul, per se. However, most would agree that our sense of self, your mind, is in your brain. A person considered "brain-dead" has no brain activity (no electrical activity, that is - no thinking) - the person is "gone" but they may still have a beating heart - if their body is kept alive by machines.
The rest of the body is remarkably capable of healing itself, but neural tissue (aka, the brain) cannot regenerate - which is why brain damage is such a bigger problem than breaking your leg. New pathways in the brain can be formed "around" damaged areas - but beyond a certain point, or if a vital part of the brain dies, there is no going back - total shutdown. The "you" that is your mind, is gone. Death of the body is not as physically immediate as we see in the movies. The body goes through several stages, and cellular death (aka decay) can take days to weeks, depending on things like temperature.
Organ donors are kept on machines that keep their heart beating and lungs pumping beyond their clinical brain death - this is to keep their organs alive until they can be harvested. Without the machines, the organs would die, just as the brain already has.
2006-11-06 15:06:58 · answer #1 · answered by psychoduckie25 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is when the brain dies.
When the heart stops you can restart it (hopefully) by electrical shock or heart massage (if the heart is exposed).
Once the brain stops registering electrical impulses it is now dead. At this point the soul/spirit leaves the body and goes on to its eternal reward.
You cannot restart the brain with electrical shock.
2006-11-06 14:58:40 · answer #2 · answered by weepingprophet15 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the soul senses death is imminent or sudden it can step out of the body moments before death if death is a mere matter of hours there is more time Angels and deceased relatives of the person dying come and surround the body they help prepare the dying person for the transition to the spirit world so they aren't frightened this is a smoother process.
2016-05-22 05:59:58 · answer #3 · answered by Melissa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it depends on what you believe. Do you believe in God and Christ, or Budda. Where do you think your soul is? In your head? Mine seems to be in my chest somehow. I am sure it is not my heart. I died on the operating table once. My soul didnt leave. Your loss of a soul is the very reason you die. I believe the universe is like a fine watch and when a cog slips, things get out of time and you die or an accident happens.
2006-11-06 14:56:42 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the heart stops and the brain dies
2006-11-07 00:40:26 · answer #5 · answered by rams 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The short answer is, when the brain dies.
If the reason you asked this question is to make a decision to become an organ donor, then I suggest that you don't do it.
2006-11-06 14:58:21 · answer #6 · answered by producer_vortex 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well by the time they actually take your organs I think your soul is long gone. Unless its one of those black market organ selling deals.
2006-11-06 14:56:19 · answer #7 · answered by Popcorn Playa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no such thing as a soul. Organs can be donated when the donor is clinically dead: when there is no remaining brain activity. This will occur rather quickly if the heart quits.
2006-11-06 14:51:46 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
when the brain dies. u know on the movies, they shoot them in the head and they instantly die. but people have a heart attack and they live sumtimes.
2006-11-06 14:50:10 · answer #9 · answered by motley_crue_boy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When the body registers as a Republican.
2006-11-06 14:49:33 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋