Brain death remains a medically and ethically complex topic, due to its religious and philosophical implications, despite the attempt to “scientificise” what is death and what is not. BD is characterized by a lack of universal standardization in its legal, ethical, religious, and diagnostic frameworks.

The determination of brain death varies significantly across jurisdictions, reflecting diverse cultural, religious, and philosophical perspectives on the end of life.

These disparities underscore the need for ongoing research to develop more sensitive and specific neuroimaging methodologies that can enhance the accuracy and reliability of brain death diagnosis.

Such advancements are particularly critical in the context of organ transplantation, where precise and timely diagnosis is essential to ensure the ethical procurement of organs while upholding the sanctity of human life.

The World Brain Death Project of 2020 represents a significant step toward global standardization, offering evidence-based guidelines to harmonize the definition and determination of brain death. However, further efforts are required to address persistent variations in clinical practices and to foster international consensus.

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