Does a Resurrected Dead Brain Have Its Old Character?

A model dons a Frankenstein's monster mask , London Fashion Week, on February 17, 2004. The author argues that if there is limited or no psychological continuity between the revived brain and the old persona, the original person won’t benefit: They are now truly dead, since their body and brain have become a new person. Peter Macdiarmid/reuters

This article first appeared on the Conversation.


Reanima Advanced Biosciences aims to use stem cells, injections of peptides and nerve stimulation to reverse “brain death as noted in clinical examination or EEG,” a project that at least scores highly on ambition.

There is a small problem with the study, however, and a major one. The first issue is our definition of brain death, which involves the irreversible end of function—if it is curable, then patients were never brain dead in the first place.

We can get around this if we recognize that being “irreversibly dead” is technology dependent. For a long time, a lack of breathing and pulse were regarded as hallmarks of death, until resuscitation methods improved.

Today, drowning victims that suffer extreme hypothermia, lack of oxygen and lack pulse and breathing for several hours can be revived (with luck and some heavy medical interventions). Even not having a heart isn’t death if you are on the transplant surgeon’s table.



Whose brain is it anyway?




In the best possible case, the proposed Reanima treatment would miraculously restore the previously declared dead person. They would regain full psychological continuity, the death certificate would be nullified and they would continue their old life. They would clearly benefit because they would get a second chance at life.





A new hope?




Going after the high impact jugular rather than trying to tinker with small effects might be just what the doctor ordered for the medical industry, which has been criticized for not trying to solve the big problems. Disrupting death is unlikely to be easy, but as author Seth Godin said: “Waiting for perfect is never as smart as making progress.”


Published in conjunction with Oxford University’s Practical Ethics blog.