“Near-death experiences: What really happens?”. The title of this report struck me as interesting, but as I continued to read my perception on the article changed from natural curiosity, to utter shock and disgust. “Now scientists aim to study what really happens to the brain and consciousness when someone is on the verge of dying”. The first thing that came to mind when reading this was that if the person was on the verge of dying, wouldn’t you be trying to save them rather than studying what’s going on in their brain?
Perhaps I don’t have all the facts as the article was rather vague, and I’m guessing it’s just an initial announcement about the possible upcoming research. However, from seeing that the idea is that “doctors will examine patients in hospitals in Europe and North America who reach a state called cardiac arrest”, I wouldn’t think my perspective on the topic would change much from reading any further.
"Cardiac arrest is a process that begins when the heart stops beating, the lungs stop working and the brain ceases functioning”. It doesn't matter whether this patient was an average patient in a hospital, or a volunteer for the benefit of research, we have to ask ourselves, where is our ethics, and how far does “science” have to go before we decide to make a public stand? If cloning people for the benefit of “better-health-insurance” is disapproved world-wide, then how come studying the brain and mind of a dying person to satisfy our curiosity is even a subject of a possibility?
It’s obvious that I’m against the implications of this article, but it could be my own personal perception based on my character, environment, and knowledge of similar topics. Other’s may agree with this article, although I can’t possibly see any light there is to shed in this topic other then selfish curiosity to explain something that is currently unexplainable.
Article Link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26675999/
3 years ago
Posts
13 comments:
Thats really sick.. The fact that they'd research on what really happens to the minds of these people who are on the verge of dying rather than helping them to survive. I do agree that there is a fine line between curiousity and basic human ettiqute.
Even though these people may be volunteers of this new form of research, there must be moral issues that needs to be addressed urgently to prevent this form of volunterism. No matter how sick the patient may be, it certainly doesn't justify their involvement.
hi,
i feel that "cardiac arrest" is = to clinically dead. these scientists are really unethical. what do they hope to gain? i mean, i am already dead, my brain have ceased functioning, what else are they going to study?
have some respect for the dead at least..
I don't think people stay in cardiac arrest for very long. They're usually in that state when they get a heart attack, as in it's a temporary state of almost dying. Of course I'm not completely sure, this is merely the knowledge I got from Grey's Anatomy.
Anyhow, it's hard to say if this research effort is unethical. It is, after all, for the benefit of science, for the benefit of the future generation. If no studies are done, we would probably never know and fully understand the functions of our body and later on use the information for other advancements in medicine
There are certain times like this we have to disregard our ethics for a bit. I think this study may be of some benefit to make references to the religious studies. I know there are a lot of stories about near death experiences and what they thought they saw or feel. So I guess I'm one of those curious people who'd like to let the scientist go ahead and feed on their curiosity.
Ouh yes, I'm sure they have a certain signed agreement to let the patient choose whether to be part of this or not. That's pretty ethical enough.= for me rather than giving one just no choice at all.
I recommend the film Flatliners that deals with this very topic. It is not true or actually scientific... excpet that it is science fiction. Still, it was a fairly entertaining sci-fi/thriller/horror from 1990, starring some well-knows: Kiefer, Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon.
it is a very controversial issue to judge whether this research is unethical..it benefits the future generation but in the course, people are hurt.
However, i think that a consent agreement between the participants and researchers must be reached before the experiment as it is a basic respect for the participants, considering the fact of presence of human rights.
Technically,research on this has already been done and by a much more accredited scientist and it does support NDEs as a very real phenomena.
Dr Pim van Lommel M.D
Source: http://www.towardthelight.org/neardeathstudies/pimvanlommelarticles.html
(makes for a good read)
A few facts have to be brought ahead though.
1.No where in the article does it state that the patients were going to be left alone to the whims of a couple of mad scientist .
2.Methodology and scientific analysis of near death experiences is ...well interesting at best.There are no instruments that can measure near death experiences.
A clinically dead brain,does not function and emit electrical signals and hence there is nothing to for these scientist to test.
What is usually done,and in Lommel's case and I qoute
"We studied patients who survived cardiac arrest, because this is a well-described life threatening medical situation, where patients will ultimately die from irreversible damage to the brain if cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is not initiated within 5 to 10 minutes. It is the closest model of the process of dying."
I find nothing unethical about it,honestly.It was merely observable scientific method.At no point are they interfering with resuscitation process.
If they are INDUCING cardiac arrest,then yeah that would be unethical.However,that is not the case.
http://www.near-death.com/
And more NDEs,whoever is interested in these sort of things like I am =P
OUCH!
they really know no boundary huh? tsktsk!
=)
Replying to your comment :
"We werent given life, to ponder about death."
It is interesting because as someone who follows Buddhism closely,where death is viewed as something to contemplate with everyday.In fact the entire philosophical nature of Buddhism can be summed up as a preparation for death.
Does not make me emo or morbid ,its just that to me,the more I contemplate death the more I realize everything and anything can go within a split second.The people we love,want to love,hate,want to forgive and the possessions we own .
Looking at the newspaper today,and seeing that kid dying from a simple chin up in an army camp just depresses me sometimes.he had his whole life in front of him>university place was booked but shit happens.Just like that.I can't imagine how his parents must be feeling.
I started to appreciate life alot of more and not waste my time with the more insignificant of things or people because life is far too short to waste it on things like that.
I know nothing whats truly beyond death and deep down sometimes I wish there is nothing.A nice good rest after all the "hard work" here on Earth,deservedly so =P,would be such a welcome.The idea of an eternal soul can sometimes sound very daunting.
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