"Zombie" Dogs
I know: I said that my next post would continue my criticism of the privileged universe notion, but this is a story that just couldn't be kept down:
Thanks to Slash Dot Science.
The Fox News story (reprinted from NY Post) says:Pittsburgh's Safar Centre for Resuscitation Research has developed a technique in which subject's veins are drained of blood and filled with an ice-cold salt solution.
The animals are considered scientifically dead, as they stop breathing and have no heartbeat or brain activity.
But three hours later, their blood is replaced and the zombie dogs are brought back to life with an electric shock.
Plans to test the technique on humans should be realised within a year, according to the Safar Centre.
[Dr. Kochanek] said his goal is to be able to put humans, such as critically wounded soldiers or stabbing or shooting victims, in a state of suspended animation for a few hours until they can receive proper medical help.
Yes, "zombie" might be journalistic hype, but the research, no matter how beneficial, is still macabre.
Note
1. BOFFIN: chiefly British : a scientific expert; especially : one involved in technological research (Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary)
Nick Buchan, Boffins create zombie dogs," NEWS.com.au (June 27, 2005). (Site's slow; text mirrored here.)
Bill Hoffmann, "Blood Swapping Reanimates Dead Dogs," Fox News (June 28, 2005).
Bill Hoffmann, "Zombie Dogs," New York Post (June 28, 2005). [free reg. required]
Safar Centre for Resuscitation Research (site contains no futher information on this development, but the 2002-2004 Annual Report confirms they do indeed conduct this kind of research)
3 comments:
Interesting questions indeed...
I'm having difficulty imagining how such a human experiment could possibly satisfy ethical requirements for research--even without actively causing the initial damage that would "kill" the person, there should be some doubts about whether the person is "fully dead" or if the experiment does him in. Or am I being too fastidious?
What sort of distinction do scholastics make as far as the intellectual and corporeal parts of the soul? Do they distinguish the soul from the spirit as St. Paul seems to (e.g., 1Cor 15:45, 1Thes 5:23, Heb 4:12)?
I wonder if such an experiment on a human would reveal the distinction between the soul and the spirit. Perhaps it would reconstitute the animal soul, but what of the spirit? If the person's spirit didn't return, who (or what) would step in to fill the void...?
MJ
Interesting remarks. I wonder if you could fill in a couple details:
1. What does the Magisterium actually say about the body-soul-spirit?
2. How does St. Thomas (or scholastics in general) interpret those scriptural passages?
Thanks!
MJ
One hears rumors of the similarity of hallucinations induced by sensory deprivation to demonic possession.
I'm just wondering the detachment of the intellect from the senses would open a void for someone or something to step in....
These experiments are not simply morally troubling, but frightening.
MJ
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