Conn. Gen. Stat. » Title 19a — PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELL-BEING · Chapter 368v — Health Care Institutions
Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 19a-504a (2026)

Continuation or removal of life support system. Determination of death

✓ current as of May 2026
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(a) For the purpose of this section, “life support system” means any mechanical or electronic device utilized by any medical facility in order to replace, assist or supplement the function of any human vital organ or combination of organs.

(b) For purposes of making a determination concerning the continuation or removal of any life support system in a general hospital licensed under section 19a-491, an individual who has sustained either (1) irreversible cessation of circulatory and respiratory functions, or (2) irreversible cessation of all functions of the entire brain, including the brain stem, is dead. Determination of death shall be made in accordance with accepted medical standards.

(P.A. 84-261, S. 1, 2.)

Cited. 44 CA 790.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 1997–2017 · leading case: State v. Guess, 715 A.2d 643 (Conn. 1998).
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State v. Guess, 715 A.2d 643 (Conn. 1998). · cites it 21× “The defendant recognizes that Connecticut has enacted General Statutes § 19a-504a,6 *768 which contains language that is identical to the language of the uniform act; see footnote 4 of this opinion; but argues that § 19a-504a (b) relates, not to assessing criminal liability,…”
Law v. Camp, 116 F. Supp. 2d 295 (D. Conn. 2000). · cites it 10× “” Conn.Gen. Stat. § 19a-504a. As the Connecticut Supreme Court noted, § 19a-504a reflects the legislature’s recognition of the need for a uniform statutory definition by which a hospital may determine brain death to account for the recent advances in medical technology.”
Kaddah v. Comm'r of Corr., 153 A.3d 1233 (Conn. 2017). · cites it 2× “2d 643 (1998) (considering statutory definition of death under Uniform Determination of Death Act, General Statutes § 19a-504a, in modifying common law for purposes of Penal Code, which did not define term "death").”
State v. Guess, 692 A.2d 849 (Conn. App. Ct. 1997). · cites it 2× “General Statutes § 19a-504a provides: “(a) For the pur *801 pose of this section, ‘life support system’ means any mechanical or electronic device utilized by any medical facility in order to replace, assist or supplement the function of any human vital organ or combination of…”
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