A Story: Is Sammy Alive?
Sammy was a normal, healthy boy. There
was nothing in his life to indicate that he was anything
different from anyone else. When he completed high school,
he obtained a job in a factory, operating a machine
press. On this job he had an accident and lost his hand.
It was replaced with an artificial hand that looked
and operated almost like a real one.
Is Sammy Alive?
Soon afterward, Sammy developed a severe
intestinal difficulty, and a large portion of his lower
intestine had to be removed. It was replaced with an
elastic silicon tube.
Is Sammy Alive?
Everything looked good for Sammy until
he was involved in a serious car accident. Both of his
legs and his good arm were crushed and had to be amputated.
He also lost an ear. Artificial legs enabled Sammy to
walk again, and an artificial arm replaced the real
arm. Plastic surgery enabled doctors to rebuild the
ear.
Is Sammy Alive?
Over the next several years, Sammy was
plagued with internal disorders. First, he had to have
an operation to remove his aorta and replace it with
a synthetic vessel. Next, he developed a kidney malfunction,
and the only way he could survive was to use a kidney
dialysis machine (no donor was found for a kidney transplant). Later, his digestive system became cancerous
and was removed. He received nourishment intravenously.
Finally, his heart failed. Luckily for Sammy, a donor
heart was available, and he had a heart transplant.
Is Sammy Alive?
It was now obvious that Sammy had become
a medical phenomenon. He had artificial limbs, nourishment
was supplied to him through his veins; therefore he
had no solid wastes. The kidney dialysis machine removed
all waste material. The heart that pumped his blood
to carry oxygen and food to his cells was not his original
heart. But Sammy's transplanted heart began to fail.
He was immediately placed on a heart-lung machine. This
supplied oxygen and removed carbon dioxide from his
blood, and it circulated blood through his body.
Is Sammy Alive?
The doctors consulted bioengineers about
Sammy. Because almost all of his life-sustaining functions
were being carried on by machine, it might be possible
to compress all of these machines into one mobile unit,
which would be controlled by electrical impulses from
Sammy's brain. This unit would be equipped with mechanical
arms to enable him to perform manipulative tasks. A
mechanism to create a flow of air over his vocal cords
might enable him to speak. To do all this, they would
have to amputate at the neck and attach his head to
the machine, which would then supply all nutrients to
his brain. Sammy consented, and the operation was successfully
performed.
Is Sammy Alive?
Sammy functioned well for a few years.
However, a slow deterioration of his brain cells was
observed and was diagnosed as terminal. So the medical
team that had developed around Sammy began to program
his brain. A miniature computer was developed: it could
be housed in a machine that was humanlike in appearance,
movement, and mannerisms. As the computer was installed,
Sammy's brain cells completely deteriorated. Sammy was
once again able to leave the hospital with complete
assurance that he would not return with biological illness.
Is Sammy Alive?
The
End
If Sammy is not alive at the story's
end, exactly when did Sammy stop being alive?
