Health Sciences 2711A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 19: Cardiac Arrhythmia, Cerebral Cortex, Permadeath

• School: Western University
• Department: Health Sciences
• Course: Health Sciences 2711A/B
• Professor: Marie Savundranayagam

Document Summary

Wa(cid:374)t (cid:858)death (cid:449)ith dig(cid:374)it(cid:455)(cid:859) quick, agony free, during sleep, clear minded final moments. Death is gentle for 20% of people. Of deaths in industrialized nations are sudden. 80-90% are from heart attacks oxygen deprivation of the heart then organs is not pain- free. Death is long & drawn out for of people. Cancer metastasizes to other organs further growing & disrupting function. Leads to physical suffering for weeks, eg, impaired breathing. Days & hours before death leads to decreased activity. Less interest in food, water & surroundings. Decreased body temp, blood pressure & circulation: cold hands, feet, skin discolouration (grey) Does(cid:374)(cid:859)t happe(cid:374) at a si(cid:374)gle poi(cid:374)t i(cid:374) ti(cid:373)e (cid:271)ut rather a pro(cid:272)ess i(cid:374) (cid:449)hi(cid:272)h orga(cid:374)s stop fu(cid:374)(cid:272)tio(cid:374)i(cid:374)g i(cid:374) a sequence. Need a defining line to help doctors decide when life-saving measures should be terminated. Brain death irreversible cessation of all activity in the brain and brain stem. Most used definition of death used in industrialized nations.