A machine that takes over one or more vital functions such as breathing when someone is unable to survive unaided because of a disease or injury.
Equipment and services, including administration of nutrition and fluids, which support one or more of the life-sustaining functions of circulation (heart), respiration (breathing), nutrition, and kidney function. When a patient is completely dependent on artificial (mechanical) means for maintenance of one or more of these functions, stopping or removing the equipment will cause death, and the stopping or removal is referred to as “termination of life support systems.”