For many physicians, lack of understanding about brain death leads to confusion and muddles interactions with patients’ loved ones at the end of life.

Criteria in statutes and tests used to diagnose brain death don’t always jibe, and this can undermine public trust in death pronouncements.

During or after conflict, a clinician might be required to provide evidence to an official investigatory body or court.

Testing everyone for everything identifies more fetal conditions, but confusion persists about whether clinicians should leave screening decisions to patients.

Physicians need to exhaust every possible alternative to bring about political changes before resorting to breaking the law as an act of civil disobedience.