On 8/27/2015 8:48 PM, Wayne.B wrote:
On Thu, 27 Aug 2015 19:08:06 -0400, "Mr. Luddite"
wrote:

As for termination of life support when brain dead, hopefully the
affected person executed a living will and/or a relative has proxy
to make that decision. I see that as a completely different issue
though. Being brain dead is a measurable state. When a fertilized
human egg becomes a human being isn't ... other than the DNA evidence
that I mentioned.

===

I can forsee a day when we may be able to measure brain waves at some
stage of fetal development. I would accept that as evidence of life,
just as we do with a person who is otherwise comatose.



Evidence already exists that a fetus has some basic brain activity as
early as the fifth week. By the sixth week it will respond to touch.