The irreversible cessation of breathing and blood circulation, or an irreversible cessation of brain activity, including activity in the brain stem which controls and regulates breathing, is the commonly accepted standard of death.

Clinical Standard of Death

Explanation:

The clinical standard of death in according to accepted medical standards involves a situation where there is irreversible cessation of all vital bodily functions such as breathing and circulation of blood. Death by clinical standard also involve irreversible cessation of brain activity including the brain stem which controls and regulates the respiratory and cardiac functions.

This accepted clinical standard of death was signed into law by the Uniform Determination of Death Act in 1980 which is a consensus definition accepted by the American Bar Association, and the American Medical Association