PROLONGING HUMAN
LIFE
prolongation:
to make something last for a longer
time
constant threat:
something that is always (constant) a danger
(threat)
physicians:
medical doctors
unconsciousness:
a condition when somebody is not aware,
not awake, and cannot be waken up
coma: deep
unconsciousness, a person does not respond to anything
artificial
respiration: breathing by
machine
pulse: the beat
of your heart
respiration:
breathing
indefinitely:
without a time limit, forever
kidney dialysis machines:
machines that will clean the blood, for
people with weak kidneys
nutrients:
vitamins, minerals, water, food
intravenously:
through a tube into your body
immesurable:
so big it can't be measured
criteria: a
standard test for making a decision
consciousness:
being awake, noticing your senses
organ: a part
inside your body, such as your heart, lungs, kidneys, stomach,
etc.
terminally
ill: going to die soon from a sickness,
with no hope to live
transplantation:
taking an organ from another person
(usually dead) and putting it into another person
maintaining:
keeping going
passive euthanasia:
letting a very sick or old person die
without treating him or her
active euthanasia:
killing a very sick or old person who is
going to die anyway
assisted
suicide: helping a very sick or old
person to kill himself or herself, because he was going to die
anyway
controversial:
causing many disagreements
Created by: Debbie
Anholt
Email: anholt@lclark.edu
Last Updated: May 15, 2002