Christopher agamemnon pallis and julius m. Korein: Two main inspiring pioneers leading the u.k.-u.s. Divide on brain death determination

Abstract

I remarked about the eight International Symposia on Brain Death and Disorders of Consciousness, held in Havana since the early '90 s. Christopher Agamemnon Pallis (1923–2005) and Julius M. Korein (1928–2008), two main inspiring pioneers in this field, attended my Symposia. Wijdicks wrote a historical account revisiting the Transatlantic discussion on the British-American (U.K.-U.S.) divide on brain death-determination of death by neurological criteria (BD/DNC) by approaching the original contributions of main inspiring pioneers in this field: Christopher Pallis and Julius Korein. As I had the unique opportunity to maintain a close personal and scientific relationship with both Scholars, I want to add important remarks to this historical approach and review and discuss that the presence of posterior fossa lesions is the main reason to explain the U.K.-U.S.divide in BD/DNC determination.

Keywords

• Brain death-death by neurological criteria (BD/DNC)
• Christopher Pallis
• Julius Korein
• Posterior fossa lesions
• Brainstem death