The Uniform Definition of Death Act was a law proposed by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws to define the legal meaning of death.

The three sections of the Act proposed for enactment read as follows^*:

Section 1

Determination of Death. An individual who has sustained either (1) irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions, or (2) irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem, is dead. A determination of death must be made in accordance with accepted medical standards.

Section 2

Uniformity of Construction and Application. This Act shall be applied and construed to effectuate its general purpose to make uniform the law with respect to the subject of this Act among states enacting it.

Section 3

Short Title. This Act may be cited as the Uniform Determination of Death Act.

See also

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• List of Uniform Acts (United States)

External links

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• Maine's Codification of this Act
• Draft of the Act by the NCCUSL
• NCCUSL Home Page

Uniform Acts | 1980 in law