What occurs during clinical death?

During clinical death, the defining characteristic is the cessation of respiration and heartbeat. This state indicates that the body is no longer actively perfusing tissues with blood or supplying oxygen, which are critical for cellular function and survival. During this phase, a person is not breathing and their heart has stopped beating; however, this does not necessarily mean that all bodily functions have completely ceased, nor does it imply that irreversible damage has started, as biological processes may still be operable for a limited time.

The concept of clinical death is distinct from biological death, which includes the onset of irreversible damage such as unrepairable brain injury or complete organ failure. In clinical death, revival may still be possible with timely medical intervention, as the body's cells have not yet undergone extensive damage due to lack of oxygen and blood flow. This period of clinical death can last several minutes under certain conditions before transitioning to biological death. Thus, the cessation of respiration and heartbeat is a crucial moment, as it signifies the transition point in the context of dying, though not yet the finality of death.