Investigators want to better understand how the body prepares to die and the molecular mechanisms associated with the onset of death. Their discoveries may bring new reasoning about life and death from a scientific and philosophical perspective, and herald possibilities for future medical treatment. We hypothesize withdrawal of central survival signals in clinical death induces a return to fetal development in select cellular populations that strive purposefully to survive. 

Scientists have continued to question, challenge, and redefine death—foremost clinical death—because of technological advances, including transplantation and other life-sustaining treatments. 

For example, in the 2018 journal article, “Circulatory Arrest, Brain Arrest and Death Determination,” published in Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, co-authors stated death occurs by one of three physiological mechanisms, a primary or secondary brain event; a primary or secondary respiratory event; or a primary or secondary circulatory event. These events could range from the cessation of blood flow which leads to apnea, hypoxemia, cardiac arrest and circulatory arrest to all organs, including the brain. 

There is also a legal determination of death in the United States, thanks to the Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA), which was developed in 1981, and is now in the process of being revised on behalf of the Uniform Law Commission, as more clinical questions and terminology are addressed.

As cells seek survival after clinical death, we are exploring the extent of their activities, which may further define how we can purposefully extend life in a clinical setting.