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Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria Guidance on Communication, Objections, Pregnancy, and Public Trust: An AAN Position Statement.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Lewis, A; Russell, JA; Bonnie, RJ; Epstein, LG; Greer, DM; Rubin, MA; Kirschen, MP ...
Published in: Neurology
November 25, 2025

This position statement provides updated member guidance from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) regarding (1) communication with surrogate decision makers about brain death/death by neurologic criteria (BD/DNC), (2) management of surrogate decision-maker objections to BD/DNC, (3) the ethical considerations associated with BD/DNC determination in a pregnant person, and (4) enhancing public trust in BD/DNC. This position statement is intended to complement recommendations in the 2023 "Pediatric and Adult Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria Consensus Guideline" published by the AAN, American Academy of Pediatrics, Child Neurology Society, and Society of Critical Care Medicine, as well as the 2021 AAN Code of Professional Conduct. It replaces the 2019 AAN position statement, "Brain death, the determination of brain death, and member guidance for brain death accommodation requests."

Duke Scholars

Published In

Neurology

DOI

EISSN

1526-632X

Publication Date

November 25, 2025

Volume

105

Issue

10

Start / End Page

e214334

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Trust
  • Societies, Medical
  • Pregnancy
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Neurology
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Decision Making
  • Communication
 

Citation

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Chicago
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MLA
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Lewis, A., Russell, J. A., Bonnie, R. J., Epstein, L. G., Greer, D. M., Rubin, M. A., … Ethics, Law, and Humanities Committee (a joint committee of the American Academy of Neurology [AAN], American Neurological Association [ANA], and Child Neurology Society [CNS]). (2025). Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria Guidance on Communication, Objections, Pregnancy, and Public Trust: An AAN Position Statement. Neurology, 105(10), e214334. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000214334
Lewis, Ariane, James A. Russell, Richard J. Bonnie, Leon G. Epstein, David Matthew Greer, Michael A. Rubin, Matthew P. Kirschen, and Ethics, Law, and Humanities Committee (a joint committee of the American Academy of Neurology [AAN], American Neurological Association [ANA], and Child Neurology Society [CNS]). “Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria Guidance on Communication, Objections, Pregnancy, and Public Trust: An AAN Position Statement.Neurology 105, no. 10 (November 25, 2025): e214334. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000214334.
Lewis A, Russell JA, Bonnie RJ, Epstein LG, Greer DM, Rubin MA, et al. Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria Guidance on Communication, Objections, Pregnancy, and Public Trust: An AAN Position Statement. Neurology. 2025 Nov 25;105(10):e214334.
Lewis, Ariane, et al. “Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria Guidance on Communication, Objections, Pregnancy, and Public Trust: An AAN Position Statement.Neurology, vol. 105, no. 10, Nov. 2025, p. e214334. Pubmed, doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000214334.
Lewis A, Russell JA, Bonnie RJ, Epstein LG, Greer DM, Rubin MA, Kirschen MP, Ethics, Law, and Humanities Committee (a joint committee of the American Academy of Neurology [AAN], American Neurological Association [ANA], and Child Neurology Society [CNS]). Brain Death/Death by Neurologic Criteria Guidance on Communication, Objections, Pregnancy, and Public Trust: An AAN Position Statement. Neurology. 2025 Nov 25;105(10):e214334.

Published In

Neurology

DOI

EISSN

1526-632X

Publication Date

November 25, 2025

Volume

105

Issue

10

Start / End Page

e214334

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States
  • Trust
  • Societies, Medical
  • Pregnancy
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Neurology
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Decision Making
  • Communication