This room of An Existential Philosopher's Museum
is now mainly of historical interest.
It has been replaced by an updated version:
http://www.tc.umn.edu/%7Eparkx032/CY-LCADA.html
A Presentation by James Park ----------------------------------------------Medical Ethics

The Living Cadaver:

Medical Uses of Permanently Unconscious Bodies

SYNOPSIS:

    Medical science and education have been using dead cadavers for centuries.
In the 21st century, 'living cadavers' will also be used for many forms of medical
research and anatomical study. In order to permit the donation of permanently
unconscious bodies as 'living cadavers', medical ethics must extend its definition
of death. In the next 100 years, many new possibilities will open up for new
medical uses of human bodies after their original owners are finished with them.

OUTLINE:

Introduction: Definition of a 'living cadaver'.

I. MEDICAL USES FOR A 'LIVING CADAVER'
    A. Medical Research
           —Experiments Too Dangerous for Living Patients.
        1. Testing of New Surgical Procedures,
            Tools, Life-Support Machines, etc.
        2. Testing of New Artificial Organs.
        3. Drug Testing.
    B. Medical Education.
        1. Practice Surgery for Surgeons in Training.
        2. Anatomical Study for Doctors in Training.
    C. Organ Donation.

II. PROBLEMS AND OBSTACLES TO BE OVERCOME
    A. Public Resistance—Sensational Media Accounts.
    B. Medical Resistance—It Has Never Been Done Before.
    C. A New Definition of Death—Permanent Unconsciousness.
    D. The Moral and Legal Status of a 'Living Cadaver'.

III. EXTENDING THE CONCEPT INTO THE NEXT 100 YEARS
    A. Anencephalic Infants—Born Permanently Unconscious.
    B. Bodies Already in Persistent Vegetative State.
    C. Convicts Condemned to Death
        1. Only Those Who Donate Voluntarily at First.
        2. Medical Uses Claimed as a Public Right.

    James Park is an existential philosopher and medical ethicist.
In his 'living will', he has donated his body as a 'living cadaver'
—after he is finished with it.

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