Dr. Faisal Shaheen, the president of the Saudi Center for Organ Transplant, says religious scholars have demand conclusive proof that no case of brain death has ever recovered and come to life.

He said that scholars want to make sure that diagnosis of brain death and the procedures to confirm brain-dead cases are conclusive to avoid any error. Shahin said scholars have the right to demand this proof.

This statement followed the recommendations of a joint committee of senior scholars and officials from the Ministry of Health in Riyadh, which stated that a medical-jurisprudence committee should be formed to study the subject of brain death. The committee should consist of members of the Health Ministry, the Council of Senior Scholars and specialized Saudi associations.

Doctors, scientists and consultants called for the formation of a medical-jurisprudence committee to study brain death, and the possibility of changing the term ‘brain-dead’ into ‘dead’ if the person was truly dead.

They recommended that scientists and religious scholars accompanied by medical specialists conduct field visits on ICUs (Intensive Care Units) to examine brain-dead patients, to reach an accurate medical image that will lead to a correct fatwa (religious ruling).

Shaheen said the Saudi Center for Organ Transplant registered 700 cases of brain-dead patients from a total number of 1,200 cases a year and that the center is not notified of about 500 deceased cases annually.

“This number will be sufficient for all cases waiting for organ transplant in the Kingdom without having to resort to other donors,” he said.