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5/02/2008

Clinical Death and Biological Death

When the heart stops pumping the lungs stop breathing, the person is in a state of clinical death. Usually, this is measured from the moment the cessation of heart and lung functions begin.

Most often the time table is 0 to 4 minutes. In this instance, remaining oxygen in the blood can still supply the brain with enough oxygen without brain damage. However after 4 minutes, the oxygen remaining in the blood will be used up and there is already the possibility that brain damage will occur. At this point in time, the person is said to be in the state of biological death.

To summarized:

CLINICAL DEATH (0-4 minutes) - occurs from the time the person stops breathing and the heart stops pumping.

BIOLOGICAL DEATH (4 minutes onwards) - brain damage may occur at this point.