Can a man die twice? – The problem with ‘brain death’

The following commentary by Phil Lawler appeared November 24 on Catholic World News.

Boxer Hector Camacho died on Saturday, his doctor said:

His death was reported by Dr. Ernesto Torres, the director of the Centro Medico trauma center in Puerto Rico, who said Camacho had a heart attack and died a short time later after being taken off life support

This is confusing, because the same doctor had announced on Thursday that Camacho was “brain dead.” If “brain death” really is death, then the doctor appears to be saying that Camacho died twice, which is absurd.

Can a dead man have a heart attack? Would it be medically significant?