Death is defined as the permanent and irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain life. It occurs when brain function stops, breathing and the heart stop working, and the body begins to decompose. Over 150,000 humans die each day from a variety of causes, including disease, trauma, and poisoning. Many cultures and religions believe in an afterlife and judgement of good and bad deeds. Brain death is a legal definition and involves the absence of brain stem reflexes and brain activity on an EEG. The cause, manner, and mode of death are also classified and can have legal consequences. Death occurs in stages, first with the cessation of vital functions and then cellular death over several hours.

1. Defination DEATH
Death is the permanent, irreversible cessation of
all biological functions that sustain a living
organism.
[1] Brain death is sometimes used as a legal
definition of death. [2] The remains of a
previously living organism normally begin to
decompose shortly after death. [3] Death is an
inevitable, universal process that eventually
occurs in all living organisms.
Death is generally applied to whole organisms;
the similar process seen in individual
components of a living organism, such as cells or
tissues, is necrosis. Something that is not
considered a living organism, such as a virus,
can be physically destroyed but is not said to die.

2. As of the early 21st century, over 150,000
humans die each day.
Many cultures and religions have the idea of an
afterlife, and also hold the idea of judgement of
good and bad deeds (Heaven, Hell, Karma).
Concept of Brain Death
It is the criteria set by Adhoc Committee of the
Harvard Medical School to Examine the
Definition of Death (1968).
1. Un-receptivity and un - responsiveness,
including a total lack of response to the most
intense, painful stimuli.
2. No movements or breathing. No effort to
breathe for 3 minutes off the respirator with the
patients carbon dioxide tension normal and
room air being breathed for ten minutes prior to
the trial.
3.No reflexes – fixed non reactive pupils, lack of
cranial nerve reflexes (corneal, pharyngeal,
ocular movements in response to head turning

3. and irrigation of ears with ice water, etc.) (Brain
stem death)
4. Isoelectric electroencephalogram (EEG)
Cause of Death
On the basis of cause death can be classified as
due to:
1. Diseases – natural deaths
2. Trauma or poisons – unnatural deaths
Manner of Death
It is important as has legal consequences.
a. Homicide
i. Culpable -Murder or manslaughter
ii. Non culpable –Justified (judicial hanging) or
excusable (self defense)
b. Suicide
c. Accident
d. Natural

4. Mode of Death
1. Coma – death from failure of functioning of
brain
2. Syncope – death from failure of functioning of
heart
3. Asphyxia – death from failure of functioning
of lungs
Mens rea – “Guilty minded” or “evil thought”
Actus rea – “Actual physical act”
It must be determined, if the person has
committed crime by his will or evil thought. A child
is not held responsible for a murder as he/she
cannot have an evil mind. The intention is judged
by circumstances.
Circumstances must prove that the person was
not able to understand to consequences of
his/her act. Protection is provided to mentally ill
patients.

5. Stages of Death
1. Somatic or Clinical Death
All vital functions such as circulation and
respiration cease to function
2. Molecular or Cellular Death
Tissues and constituent cells are no longer
functioning metabolically. It completes in 3-4
hours after somatic death.
•Brain tissues die within 3 minutes
•Kidneys die within 30 minutes
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