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March 24, 2025
Title: Doctors, Philosophers, and Lawyers Debate Brain Death
Topic: Organ Donation
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
There is much disagreement among doctors, philosophers, and lawyers on when the moment of brain death occurs.
Dr. Heidi Klessig was recently asked to be on a panel discussing when death occurs. Today, she discusses some of the content from this panel and why everyone should be informed on this issue. Dr. Klessig is a retired anesthesiologist and pain management specialist who writes and speaks about the ethics of organ harvesting and transplantation.
Click
here to read the report by Dr. Heidi Klessig.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
Is there a scientific test that determines when brain death occurs?
Has there been a breakdown between clinical and legal standards for the determination of death by neurologic criteria?
The latest brain death guidelines allow death to be declared while parts of the brain are still functioning. What does this mean for the patient and the patient’s family?
Dr. Klessig reveals that the new guidelines do NOT require informed consent! Listen as she explains why this is so horrific.
How do many nurses view this issue?
Why should people be informed on this important issue?
Click
here to order a copy of one of the many books by Dr. Heidi Klessig and others from
Respect for Human Life.
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
February 21, 2025
Title: “Brain Death” Lacks Medical, Moral, and Legal Foundations
Topic: Organ Donation
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Part 1 of 3
When is someone dead? Under the
Uniform Determination of Death Act (UDDA), death is defined to occur in one of two ways: an individual who has sustained either irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions or irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem.
Today, Dr. Heidi Klessig explains what this means for people who are organ donors and what everyone should know about the changes to the definition of “death” by the
American Academy of Neurology.
Dr. Heidi Klessig, MD is a retired anesthesiologist and pain management specialist who writes and speaks about the ethics of organ harvesting and transplantation.
Click
here to read Dr. Heidi Klessig’s article on this very important topic.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
What happened when Dr. Klessig was preparing a brain-dead patient for organ donation? What did the anesthesiologist say about the procedure? Did this comment catch her off-guard, causing her to question the life-saving practice?
Does diagnosing brain death involve high-tech equipment? Dr. Klessig describes the process from start to finish.
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
Title: Part 2 of 3 - “Brain Death” Lacks Medical, Moral, and Legal Foundations
Topic: Organ Donation
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Questions/Issues Discussed:
Does the definition for “brain death” need an upgrade? Dr.
Klessig discusses the history of the definition, the “dead doner rule”,
and the original thoughts on “irreversible comas”.
Dr. Heidi Klessig is very passionate about this serious issue. Why does she call
it “euthanasia”?
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
Title: Part 3 of 3 - “Brain Death” Lacks Medical, Moral, and Legal Foundations
Topic: Organ Donation
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Questions/Issues Discussed:
Are many people unaware of what organ donation really entails? Click
here
for more information about removing your name from the organ donation registry
and to receive a wallet-sized card to carry informing medical personnel of your
desire to not be a donor.
What was the intent behind the original definition of “brain death” by
the American Academy of Neurology? Did the new definition allow doctors
to skirt the “dead donor rule”? Dr. Klessig calls the new
definition a “diagnosis in search of a justification”.
When did the mindset change about the definition of “brain death”?
A moral and humane society should show compassion to its most vulnerable
members. Is this why Respect for Human Life fights so hard to spread
the truth about organ donation?
Click here to order a copy of one of the many books by Dr. Heidi Klessig and others from Respect for Human Life.
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
December 2, 2024
Title: Don’t Be Fooled about Organ Harvesting
Topic: Organ Donation
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Part 1 of 2
Some would say we are experiencing medically rationalized cannibalism through organ donation/harvesting.
Today, Dr Heidi Klessig sets the record straight on misinformation being spread by the medical community. Dr. Klessig is a retired anesthesiologist and pain management specialist, who now speaks about the dangers of organ donation. She is an author with
Respect for Human Life.
Click
here to read Dr. Heidi Klessig’s article on this topic.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
Is there an ongoing debate as to when death occurs? Dr. Klessig explains why she is so passionate about this serious issue.
Is organ transplantation a big money-making business? Does the money drive many of the decisions?
FACT: In 2020, organ harvesting raked in a whopping $48 BILLION.
Do many doctors and nurses need to know all the facts before they declare someone “dead”?
Is there more than one definition of when death occurs? Dr. Klessig discusses the different types of “death”.
On average, how long does an organ remain viable after death?
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
Title: Part 2 of 2 - Don’t Be Fooled about Organ Harvesting
Topic: Organ Donation
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Questions/Issues Discussed:
IREVIEW: What is the definition of “death” according to the “experts”?
What is a “Do Not Resuscitate”(DNR) declaration?
Can a patient be breathing and with blood circulating, yet have life sustaining
care removed or stopped while medical personnel wait for no heartbeat for 2 to 5
minutes? Dr. Klessig discusses this horrible and inhumane practice.
Are doctors playing god with peoples’ lives?
If you are having second thoughts about being an organ donor, click
here for more information on
how to unregister.
Click here to order a
copy of one of the many books by Dr. Heidi Klessig and others from Respect
for Human Life.
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
October 31, 2024
Title: Brain Dead Man Recovers. Dances at Sister’s Wedding!
Topic: Organ Donation
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
In 2021, a supposedly brain-dead man, Anthony Thomas “TJ” Hoover II, opened his eyes and looked around while being wheeled to the operating room to donate his organs.
Hospital staff at Baptist Health hospital in Richmond, Kentucky assured his family that these were just “reflexes.”
Today, Dr. Heidi Klessig shares the rest of this story, plus a few others like it. She also explains the need for Congress to urgently address this issue and make changes. Dr. Klessig is a retired anesthesiologist and pain management specialist, who now speaks about the dangers of organ donation. She is an author with
Respect for Human Life.
Click
here to read more about TJ’s story from Dr. Heidi Klessig.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
Are we told by our government and the MSM that we should “trust the science”?
Dr. Klessig reminds us that science is always changing and improving, saying: “It’s quite troubling that the public is only given propaganda, not facts.”
Is there a clear definition of being brain dead? Is the definition of brain dead often subjective and not evidence based?
What is the rest of TJ’s story? After Dr. Klessig shares details of his recovery, she reveals that his case was brought before the US House Committee with the goal of investigating organ procurement organizations.
Are there others who have been declared brain dead but were, in fact, alive?
You can click
here to read about more.
Do State and Federal governments need to take a serious look at the definition of “brain death”?
If you are having second thoughts about being an organ donor, click
here for more information on how to unregister.
Click here to order a copy of one of the many books by Dr. Heidi Klessig and others from
Respect for Human Life.
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
July 15, 2024
Title: The Ethics of Organ Donation
Topic: Organ Harvesting
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Part 1 of 3
Is there clear evidence that China is executing political prisoners by harvesting organs while the prisoner is alive and then selling the harvested body parts in the world market? What are our elected officials in America doing to stop it?
Today, Dr. Heidi Klessig discusses this horrific practice and what can be done to stop it. Dr. Klessig is a retired anesthesiologist and pain management specialist, who now speaks about the dangers of organ donation. She is an author with
Respect for Human Life.
Click
here to read Dr. Klessig’s op-ed on this important topic.
Click here for some great videos from Dr. Heidi Klessig on this important topic.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
Is China’s track record of forced organ harvesting well-documented? Dr. Klessig reveals the shocking details from reputable sources from around the world.
In recent years, has China developed one of the largest and most sophisticated systems of organ transplantation in the world with wait times far shorter than in most other countries?
Is medical tourism to receive transplants in China big business?
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
Title: Part 2 of 3 - The Ethics of Organ Donation
Topic: Organ Harvesting
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Questions/Issues Discussed:
What states have addressed and/or banned the practice of organ harvesting from
China? Dr. Heidi Klessig discusses the positive legislation from
Delaware, Texas, Utah, and Idaho. She also explains why the Governor of Arizona
vetoed a bill passed by both the House and Senate.
Have the countries of Israel, Spain, Italy, Taiwan, Norway, and Belgium passed
laws against forced organ harvesting?
What is the purpose of HR4132, the Falun Gong Protection
Act? Is the Senate version, SB761, stalled in committee?
Dr. Klessig explains the strong penalties outlined in this bill.
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
Title: Part 3 of 3 - The Ethics of Organ Donation
Topic: Organ Harvesting
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Questions/Issues Discussed:
What is the clinical definition of “death”? Has it been modified over
the past few years? Dr. Klessig explains the tricky language used to
trick people into becoming organ donors. Click
here
for all the latest information from Dr. Heidi Klessig and
Respect for Human Life.
Click here to order a
copy of one of the many books by Dr. Heidi Klessig and others from Respect
for Human Life.
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
July 10, 2024
Title: The Ethics of Organ Donation
Topic: Organ Harvesting
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Part 1 of 3
Is there clear evidence that China is executing political prisoners by harvesting organs while the prisoner is alive and then selling the harvested body parts in the world market? What are our elected officials in America doing to stop it?
Today, Dr. Heidi Klessig discusses this horrific practice and what can be done to stop it. Dr. Klessig is a retired anesthesiologist and pain management specialist, who now speaks about the dangers of organ donation. She is an author with
Respect for Human Life.
Click
here to read Dr. Klessig’s op-ed on this important topic.
Click here for some great videos from Dr. Heidi Klessig on this important topic.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
Is China’s track record of forced organ harvesting well-documented? Dr. Klessig reveals the shocking details from reputable sources from around the world.
In recent years, has China developed one of the largest and most sophisticated systems of organ transplantation in the world with wait times far shorter than in most other countries?
Is medical tourism to receive transplants in China big business?
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
Title: Part 2 of 3 - The Ethics of Organ Donation
Topic: Organ Harvesting
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Questions/Issues Discussed:
What states have addressed and/or banned the practice of organ harvesting from
China? Dr. Heidi Klessig discusses the positive legislation from
Delaware, Texas, Utah, and Idaho. She also explains why the Governor of Arizona
vetoed a bill passed by both the House and Senate.
Have the countries of Israel, Spain, Italy, Taiwan, Norway, and Belgium passed
laws against forced organ harvesting?
What is the purpose of HR4132, the Falun Gong Protection
Act? Is the Senate version, SB761, stalled in committee?
Dr. Klessig explains the strong penalties outlined in this bill.
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
Title: Part 3 of 3 - The Ethics of Organ Donation
Topic: Organ Harvesting
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Questions/Issues Discussed:
What is the clinical definition of “death”? Has it been modified over
the past few years? Dr. Klessig explains the tricky language used to
trick people into becoming organ donors. Click
here
for all the latest information from Dr. Heidi Klessig and
Respect for Human Life.
Click here to order a
copy of one of the many books by Dr. Heidi Klessig and others from Respect
for Human Life.
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
August 3, 2023
Title: Canada Updates “Death Standards”. Is America Next?
Topic: Euthanasia
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Part 1 of 2
Dr. Heidi Klessig is a retired anesthesiologist and pain management specialist. She was a recent observer to the Uniform Law Commission, which met to consider a revision of the
Uniform Determination of Death Act of 1981. Today, Dr. Klessig helps us understand the difference between legally dead vs. biologically dead.
We urge all listeners to read and share her recent
op-ed about Canada’s proposed changes to death standards and how it could affect Americans.
Click here to order a copy of one of Dr. Klessig’s books.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
Is the definition of when death occurs changing? Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Dr. Klessig shares some of the changes that have already been made and why doctors in the US are asking the Uniform Law Commission to change their standards to keep from being sued.
EXAMPLE: A person is unresponsive, dependent on a ventilator, and lacking certain protective brainstem reflexes, but still has a beating-heart. Is it “worth the effort” to keep that person alive, praying for a full recovery and restoration of full health? Click
here to read story after story of survivors!
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
Title: Part 2 of 2 - Canada Updates “Death Standards”. Is America Next?
Topic: Euthanasia
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Questions/Issues Discussed:
Why are doctors in the US urging the Uniform Law Commission to change their
death standards?
What is the difference between legally dead vs. biologically dead?
Does the Canadian committee responsible for the death standard re-write have
team members who belong to organ donation organizations? Shouldn’t this be
considered a major red flag and conflict of interest?
If adopted, will the new definition of death standards in the US lead to rushed
judgments from medical staff and steer patients to receive less care or no care
at all? Dr. Klessig discusses the pro-life organizations that are fighting the
US re-write of the death standards, including the
National Right to Life and the
National Catholic Bioethics Center.
Patients have the right to expect the best care they can receive. If the new
death standards are adopted in the US, will this change once a person is
declared legally dead? Will patients lose their civil right to care? Will it
lead to premature deaths?
Why is public trust in the American medical system at an all-time low? Dr.
Klessig explains why people should consider removing themselves from the organ
donation list. Click
here for more information.
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
July 10, 2023
Title: The Ethics of Organ Harvesting and Transplantation
Topic: Organ Donation
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Part 1 of 3
Disclaimer: Please do not construe any statement made during this interview as medical or legal advice. Always consult your physician or attorney for advice on this and other issues.
Are you an organ donor? Is it ethical? Dr. Heidi Klessig is a retired anesthesiologist and pain management specialist. Today, Dr. Klessig discusses what you need to know about organ donation.
Click
here to read Heidi’s article in the American Thinker. https://www.americanthinker.com/
Click here to order a copy of the many books by
Respect for Human Life authors.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
Why is Dr. Klessig so passionate about this topic?
What is a tissue transplant compared to an organ transplant? Dr. Klessig takes us back to high school biology class…
What transplants are ethical and which are not?
Is it important to understand the moral framework of the Ten Commandments, focusing on murder, lying, and theft? Dr. Klessig says: “Following these precepts also fulfills the Golden Rule: treating others as we want to be treated.”
Are there critical details that everyone who signs a donor card has a right to know?
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
Title: Part 2 of 3 - The Ethics of Organ Harvesting and Transplantation
Topic: Organ Donation
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Disclaimer: Please do not construe any statement made during this interview as medical or legal advice. Always consult your physician or attorney for advice on this and other issues.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
What are organ procurement organizations?
Do organ procurement organizations sometimes interfere with autopsies? Dr.
Klessig admits that this answer surprised her when she was doing her research.
Must someone be a registered organ and/or tissue donor to donate after their
death?
Can a listener simply notify their family of their wishes? Dr. Klessig discusses
the actions you must take to remove yourself from the organ donor list. Click
here
for the downloadable card to keep in your wallet.
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
Title: Part 3 of 3 - The Ethics of Organ Harvesting and Transplantation
Topic: Organ Donation
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Disclaimer: Please do not construe any statement made during this interview as medical or legal advice. Always consult your physician or attorney for advice on this and other issues.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
Are there differences in tissue harvesting/transplanting and organ
harvesting/transplanting?
What is “living organ donation”? Dr. Klessig calls this the “happy
story of transplants” because everyone remains alive after the donation and
offers examples.
What are “paired organs”? Are these considered ethical transplants?
Should someone consider traveling to another country if needing an organ
transplant?
Are there legal and ethical questions surrounding a diagnosis of “brain
dead”? Dr. Klessig reveals that in 1968, a committee of doctors
at Harvard Medical School changed the meaning of death. She also discusses the
horrific changes being made to the
Uniform Determination of Death Act of 1981.
What is donation after “circulatory death”? Is this banned in many
European countries? Click
here for more information about the ethical definition of death.
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
June 5, 2023
Title: The Ethics of Organ Harvesting and Transplantation
Topic: Organ Donation
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Part 1 of 3
Disclaimer: Please do not construe any statement made during this interview as medical or legal advice. Always consult your physician or attorney for advice on this and other issues.
Are you an organ donor? Is it ethical? Dr. Heidi Klessig is a retired anesthesiologist and pain management specialist. Today, Dr. Klessig discusses what you need to know about organ donation.
Click
here to read Heidi’s article in the American Thinker. https://www.americanthinker.com/
Click here to order a copy of the many books by
Respect for Human Life authors.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
Why is Dr. Klessig so passionate about this topic?
What is a tissue transplant compared to an organ transplant? Dr. Klessig takes us back to high school biology class…
What transplants are ethical and which are not?
Is it important to understand the moral framework of the Ten Commandments, focusing on murder, lying, and theft? Dr. Klessig says: “Following these precepts also fulfills the Golden Rule: treating others as we want to be treated.”
Are there critical details that everyone who signs a donor card has a right to know?
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
Title: Part 2 of 3 - The Ethics of Organ Harvesting and Transplantation
Topic: Organ Donation
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Disclaimer: Please do not construe any statement made during this interview as medical or legal advice. Always consult your physician or attorney for advice on this and other issues.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
What are organ procurement organizations?
Do organ procurement organizations sometimes interfere with autopsies? Dr.
Klessig admits that this answer surprised her when she was doing her research.
Must someone be a registered organ and/or tissue donor to donate after their
death?
Can a listener simply notify their family of their wishes? Dr. Klessig discusses
the actions you must take to remove yourself from the organ donor list. Click
here
for the downloadable card to keep in your wallet.
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization
Title: Part 3 of 3 - The Ethics of Organ Harvesting and Transplantation
Topic: Organ Donation
Discussed by Dr. Heidi Klessig
with Respect for Human Life (www.respectforhumanlife.com/)
Disclaimer: Please do not construe any statement made during this interview as medical or legal advice. Always consult your physician or attorney for advice on this and other issues.
Questions/Issues Discussed:
Are there differences in tissue harvesting/transplanting and organ
harvesting/transplanting?
What is “living organ donation”? Dr. Klessig calls this the “happy
story of transplants” because everyone remains alive after the donation and
offers examples.
What are “paired organs”? Are these considered ethical transplants?
Should someone consider traveling to another country if needing an organ
transplant?
Are there legal and ethical questions surrounding a diagnosis of “brain
dead”? Dr. Klessig reveals that in 1968, a committee of doctors
at Harvard Medical School changed the meaning of death. She also discusses the
horrific changes being made to the
Uniform Determination of Death Act of 1981.
What is donation after “circulatory death”? Is this banned in many
European countries? Click
here for more information about the ethical definition of death.
More from this Guest More on this Topic More from this Organization