X-Message-Number: 25893 Date: Sun, 27 Mar 2005 09:42:02 -0500 From: Thomas Donaldson <> Subject: To Joseph Bloch To Joseph Bloch: Not only are there diseases which cause continued deterioration while you're in a coma of a "persistent vegetative state", but there are lots of them. Alzheimer's Disease destroys your brain over time. You may end up helpless and being constantly cared for before your brain is completely gone. ALS, if the patient is kept alive, will eventually destroy his/her brain. And so on and on. And I will let you in on a secret, which most doctors will not admit: the standard definition of death says that you must stop breathing and your heartbeat must stop. In terms of whether any of their upper brain (and so memories, self, etc) remains, this definition says nothing at all. A "persistent vegetative state" is basically a pseudonym for someone technically alive (heart beats, breathing goes on) but is quite quite dead by any sensible definition.... not that religious people will use a sensible definition. And even if Terri Schiavo had made a Living Will, it's far from clear, from all the agitation about her fate, that those caring for her will pay attention to it. As they're saying about Terri Schiavo: "She's really alive, and should not be allowed to die". If you're awake enough, you might hope to commit suicide and be immediately suspended if you have such a disease. Brain diseases aren't very friendly at all; they can make you reverse every decision you made for your life. None of this is a sign of a friendly universe. Best wishes and long long life for all, Thomas Donaldson Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=25893