As a medical professional with expertise in neurology and critical care, I can explain the concept of brain death and its distinction from the state of being alive. When a person is declared brain dead, it means that there is cease of all functions of the entire brain, including the brainstem. The brainstem is responsible for critical life-sustaining functions such as breathing, heart rate, and other reflexes. If brain death occurs, these functions stop, and the individual is legally and clinically dead. However, in some cases, a patient may be on life support, which can maintain the appearance of life, such as a heartbeat or artificial respiration, even after brain death. This can create a situation where a person may appear alive to the untrained eye, but in medical terms, they are not alive. The warmth of the skin can also be misleading because body temperature can be maintained for some time after the cessation of blood circulation. In summary, while the body may still exhibit some signs of life after brain death, the individual is not alive in a biological sense. The brain is the control center for all vital functions, and without it, life as we understand it ends. read more >>

A person who is brain dead may appear alive -- there may be a heartbeat, they may look like they're breathing, their skin may still be warm to the touch. But doctors say there is no life when brain activity ceases.read more >>