talya+brain+death



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If a person is brain dead can you take them off life support? Are they considered dead? What if she is pregnant and brain dead? Saving a life is important and you can even break Shabbat to save a life, so what gives you the right to end a person's life? If he or she is brain dead would he/she be taken off life support so they can use his organs to save a person that will thrive in the world and make a difference (live).

1)Some people say that if a person is brain dead they are dead, and once they are taken off life support their organs are given to someone who needs them.(Rabbi Yitzchock A. Breitowitz, Article) Because a person who is on life support can't do much and might stay like that forever while a person who gets organs can live a full life.

2)Technology is helping they did a scan on a woman and asked her to think about her house, family, etc. When they did that they saw that she was conscious even though she can't move her body. This scan was made a few years ago.They say she had a "rich mental life". (Rabbi Avi Shafran, Article) Because she is conscious she is still aware of her surroundingsshe, she can use her brain.

3) Jewish law says a life can't be taken to save another life. (Halacha) You can't end another persons life for their organs and give them to a person who might need them because you are making one life better than the other and deciding between life and death.

4)Taking (harvesting) organs is forbidden if there is still a heart beat because that person is still alive.(Rabbi Avi Shafran, Article)



My opinion is none of these, I think that if a person is brain dead they are still alive and not be taken off life support.