Citation

Raniszewska-Wyrwa A. Udar Mozgu - Problemy Interdyscyplinarne 2009; 11(1): 23-30.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Stroke, ischaemic as well as haemorrhagic, can be associated with an insufficient function of brain stem, which is a directing and regulating centre of life processes. If we define life as taking, processing and accumulation of energy and keeping energetic balance of an organism, the result following from it is that a condition of keeping one's health or even life is a correct level of energy and ability to process and transport it. Perceiving the activity of organism from the angle of energy was already present in the ancient Chinese medicine, which was based on the concept of health on the basis of which there is a philosophical system based on the belief that everything is subordinated to energetic forces of an organism. Similarly, in philosophy one can quite often notice an emphasis being put on the meaning of homeostasis of life forces (energy) in health maintenance. Cerebral stroke as an energetic deficit causes a disturbance of this energetic homeostasis. The change in health condition due to a stroke is identical with the change of life's quality. Stroke's consequences can be temporary or permanent; permanent loss of life's quality accepted by a man can cause a resignation from its defence, so it can be a real cause of threat to life. Because a stroke - in itself - is one of the biggest threats to human life, one can consider that it is an occurrence which is a double threat: direct (energetic disorder of brain causes death) and indirect (lowered life's quality can provoke autodestructive acts). The second type of threat starts a discussion on the issue of suicide or euthanasia, so it implies the necessity to set limits within which a man can decide about his life or death. These issues will be raised from the angle of principle of life's sanctity and quality, the meaning of suffering, autonomy and a right to death. Copyright © 2009 Via Medica.

Language: pl

Keywords

human; Man; suicide; Death; quality of life; threat; physical activity; Brain; philosophy; review; death; euthanasia; Stroke; Philosophy; health status; cerebrovascular accident; Quality of life; brain dysfunction; independence; Suffering; energy balance; Energy; Holiness of life