Havana, Cuba.- The event is an ideal space to discuss the diagnosis and management of vegetative states, and minimal awareness, as of famous cases that lead to controversies on the issue.

Since late 50s, the concept that the irreversible loss of functions integrated in the brain is synonymous with death of the individual, which is known as brain death (BD), began to be progressively accepted.

However, controversial cases, widely spread by the press and social media, encourage discussions among doctors, lawyers and bioethicists, and show the need for a current discussion on the subject.

Among them are the case of Jahi McMath, whose family rejects diagnosis of BD, and Marlise Nicole Muñoz, who although declared in BD, doctors kept her body under mechanical breathing, because she was 14 weeks pregnant.

The symposium is being held at Habana Libre Hotel until December 7. (PL)

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