nap@druxo.UUCP (Parsons) (01/30/85)
This is in response to an article that I failed to save. It said something to the effect that prior to 28 weeks, the brain activity of a human fetus was not that of homo-sapiens; hence, couldn't we abort the fetus just as we may "pull the plug" when a person has been pronounced brain dead. My reply: If it isn't homo-sapiens, what is it? I mean, it has to be something...if it is the brain activity of a dog, that would be one thing. But if it is the brain activity of a homo-sapiens fetus, although different from an adult homo-sapiens, I don't see that your suggestion differs much from any of the other suggested criteria. The other problem that I have with this proposal is that the criteria for deciding to pull the plug is not just "brain dead," but *irreversibly* brain dead. In the case of the human fetus, it is highly likely that the the "reversal" of the apparent "brain deadness" is just a matter of time. It seems to me that if one accepts the criteria for the fetus, it would be logical to accept pulling the plug on someone whom the doctors said showed no current brain activity, but probably would within some relatively short period of time, if it was convenient for the heirs or the spouse or whoever. Nancy Parsons AT&T ISL
preece@ccvaxa.UUCP (01/31/85)
> If it isn't homo-sapiens, what is it? I mean, it has to be > something...if it is the brain activity of a dog, that would be one > thing. But if it is the brain activity of a homo-sapiens fetus, > although different from an adult homo-sapiens, I don't see that your > suggestion differs much from any of the other suggested criteria. ---------- Well, it's a homo-sapiens fetus. That's not the issue. An acorn is at some level the same as an oak tree, but it's also qualitatively different. I guess I'd say that being homo-sapiens doesn't make it a person. scott preece ihnp4!uiucdcs!ccvaxa!preece