Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine - Volume 66, Number 4, Page 229

Volume 66 Number 4
September 1999 back to contents

Diagnosing Death: What's Trust Got to Do with It? 229 - 235

Lance K. Stell, PH.D.

Charles A. Dana Professor of Philosophy and Chairman, Department of Philosophy, Davidson College, Davidson, NC; and Chief, Section of Medical Ethics, Department of Internal Medicine, Carolinas Medical Center, Davidson, NC.
Address correspondence to Lance K. Stell, Ph.D., 102 N. Main Street, Davidson, NC 28036.

ABSTRACT
Physicians licensed to practice medicine have enjoyed socially endorsed, legally underwritten status-trust to a remarkable degree. However, such trust is not endorsed equally by all segments of American society, most notably, by African Americans. Because physicians underappreciate this fact, they fail to understand how routine medical behavior can disproportionately exacerbate African Americans' pre-existing suspicions. On the other hand, overinterpretation of this fact needlessly risks despair. A theory of trust provides guidance in resolving clinical conflicts.

KEY WORDS
Brain death, diagnosing death, minorities, trust, organ donation

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Volume 66 Number 4 September 1999	back to contents

Diagnosing Death: What's Trust Got to Do with It?	229 - 235
Lance K. Stell, PH.D.
Charles A. Dana Professor of Philosophy and Chairman, Department of Philosophy, Davidson College, Davidson, NC; and Chief, Section of Medical Ethics, Department of Internal Medicine, Carolinas Medical Center, Davidson, NC. Address correspondence to Lance K. Stell, Ph.D., 102 N. Main Street, Davidson, NC 28036.