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<p>No, there doesn’t. As much as we might find it appalling or macabre or against our personal belief systems, as long as it doesn’t pose a health risk, then it’s not for us to say.</p>
<p>There might have to be regulations to address the health risk (and there probably are in most places). I will note, however, that the health risks from a dead body are not really all that great, and many of the regulations of burial and embalming practices currently in place are far more restrictive than is really necessary–and really just drive up the costs collected by the funeral industry.</p>
<p><a href=“SFGATE: San Francisco Bay Area News, Sports, Culture, Travel, Food and Drink - SFGATE”>SFGATE: San Francisco Bay Area News, Sports, Culture, Travel, Food and Drink - SFGATE;
<p>New article. This one refers to a facility again. Of course, if she was in an actual facility and getting better there would likely be some actual facts emerging by now.</p>
<p>“No, there doesn’t. As much as we might find it appalling or macabre or against our personal belief systems, as long as it doesn’t pose a health risk, then it’s not for us to say.”</p>
<p>So, really, it is OK if I take dear old Uncle Bernie who died in his sleep, and prop him up in the front parlor with that Victrola of music he loved to listen to? As long as he’s not a disease vector? I promise to keep him clean, and I always use Lysol. For that matter, why can’t I prop him up in the front yard in a nice lawn chair? He always loved to sit outside and shoot the breeze.</p>
<p>Why aren’t we, as a society, allowed to “collect” our dead ones in our home? There’s a reason for that that goes beyond health concerns. </p>
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Who says we’re not allowed to do this? We might have to mummify them in some way, but I don’t see any particular reason this should be illegal (or even if it is illegal), as long as Uncle Bernie’s wishes are respected. Certainly people keep the ashes of dead relatives around (a practice I find creepy)–I’m not sure what the limit is.</p>
<p>Well, I do think a Federal lawsuit for the cost of their care is over the limit and that seems to be where most people think this is headed. We shall see.</p>
<p>I hadn’t thought about the ashes in urns (mostly because I’ve personally never known anyone who’s had ashes in urns). Good point, Hunt. You got me there.</p>
<p>You want to really blow your mind, Google “cremation jewelry.” Really?</p>
<p>This is off topic, but hunt’s post made me think of another one that boggles the mind - tampon art.</p>
<p>As to her mother saying, “she is not suffering,” I have to agree. Brain dead people cannot feel pain. </p>
<p>Thanks a lot, Hunt. I didn’t need to know that stuff existed!</p>
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<p>I’m pretty sure laws like this (to the extent that they exist) have very ancient origins that really do correlate to disease, and also to the public nuisance attending decomposition. (E.g., you might be able to stuff and display Fido when he dies, but if the dog rotting in your living room gathers a million flies and stinks up the neighborhood, the cops can probably come and address the situation.)</p>
<p>The vast majority of our laws really do have a pragmatic basis. A few exist that are grounded in common perceptions of decency and so on (public nudity, sexual behaviors, opening businesses on Sunday) but you’ll notice that these are the ones that get brought before the courts time and again. Their long-term status is by no means guaranteed, and the chances of passing new regulations based solely on what some people find disgusting or reprehensible are pretty small.</p>
<p>Cadavers are expensive, but I wonder if there are jurisdictions where a well-off med student could get a permit to keep one in his house (provided he had the appropriate facilities).</p>
<p><a href=“Mother of brain dead teen Jahi McMath gives update on daughter’s condition | Fox News”>Mother of brain dead teen Jahi McMath gives update on daughter’s condition | Fox News;
<p>Better physically? How so?</p>
<p>As my grandmother used to say, “Imagination to a fool is like a physick.”</p>
<p>Mostly the same stuff in this piece: <a href=“http://discussions.latimes.com/20/lanews/la-me-ln-brain-dead-jahi-mcmath-mother-update-20140221/10”>http://discussions.latimes.com/20/lanews/la-me-ln-brain-dead-jahi-mcmath-mother-update-20140221/10</a></p>
<p>What I did find interesting was this part in one of the comments, “the Oakland School District officials who staged the “Race Matters” assembly with Jahi’s biological father’s attorney speaking to all the young students regarding Jahi.” I’ve not heard word of her father since the very early days. Apparently he has his own attorney. Anyone know more about this?</p>
<p>If the family was hoping the recent interviews started to bring in more money, it seems to have had a very minimal impact. There were some donations, but very small and limited. </p>
<p>Don’t laugh, but I had a thought - when the family does their taxes this year (assuming they do), how will they count Jahi? I can’t imagine the IRS will take too kindly to declaring her a dependent and / or writing off the medical costs incurred since the death (if indeed they are being incurred, if she’s really in a real facility, which personally I doubt). </p>
<p>Seeing as how they perhaps didn’t pay for much of the cost, its probably a non issue. Wonder how they account for the $59K in donations. Is that “income” (though most of that has probably been collected in 2014- so will be their 2014 tax burden)</p>
<p>Pizzagirl - you are right. You can claim a minor dependent on your taxes, what will they classify her as with a death certificate issued?</p>
<p>rrah - Jahi’s biological father has his own attorney ( a prominent local civil right’s lawyer) because he sued the city of Oakland and settled for $50K a few years ago after some kind of scuffle with police.</p>