[nkrisc]

> Brain-dead people don't have such limitations. You don't have to worry about causing pain

Fortunately determining brain death is a problem with a clear-cut answer with a clear line dividing “brain death” and “not brain death”. Right?

[moi2388]

No, but you can measure pain response, and predict pretty well if they ever wake up, so well enough for this.

[nkrisc]

Actually it’s less the science of it that concerns me, but whether procedures will be rigorously followed.

[baranul]

Agree with you on that. People can say that there is a procedure, but verifying that they are following it is another matter. Also curious as to the process for volunteering people for such experiments. Like if there is some paperwork that the family signs off on.

[actionfromafar]

And in China they can just decide they will never wake up regardless.

[Nextgrid]

Very good point - I don't have an answer for that. But I'd say if there was a choice between killing a person who is very much alive and conscious by our current standards, and one who is "brain dead" by the same standards, I'd still pick the latter.

Part of it is a choice you make when choosing to donate your body for research. There's a chance brain death can be determined incorrectly (though in this situation it's likely the same determination will be used to withdraw life-support, research donation or not).

[echelon]

This is what holds us back.

If I'm ever declared brain dead, I want scientists experimenting on me. That's a much better use than giving organs to just a handful of people. It pushes the salients forward for everyone.

[XorNot]

I mean for experimental organ transplants we could literally do both though.