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

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