The Choice
Betty was not feeling well. After calling her automated doctor, she was referred to a specialist in advanced neurobiotic illnesses at the local hospital. Schedules being as they were, and her symptoms pushed her to the front of the line when she reached the hospital.
After a brief intake interview and a number of tests, she met with the Chief of Neurobiotics. He told her that her condition was serious. The synapses in her neurons had misfired and were failing. Immediate action was necessary.
There were several options she could choose from. One was to have surgery done, which would correct the positioning of the neurons in her brain so that they would fire correctly. This was an invasive operation, and the survival rate was just over 50%. However, if she survived, her prognosis for a long life was excellent.
A second option was to try and limit her pain by using medication that allowed her to function normally. This had a greater survival rate. However, there was no guarantee that she would be pain-free, nor would it solve the cause of the problem. If it worked, hopefully, her life would be more bearable. This was a more costly option, as she would need to take the medicine for the rest of her life.
The last option was that she could take part in a new experimental neuron/synapse replacement procedure. If successful, this would alleviate all her pain and give her the best chance at survival. The success rate so far had been very good. This procedure could be done relatively non-invasively, leading to a normal life. It’s amazing what modern technology is capable of. So far, the only known side effect of this treatment was that her memories would be impacted since the replacement neurons would be taken from her memory cortex. She would lose the memories she had and would have to start relearning all that she knew.
The choice was hers to make.
Betty sat there in stunned silence. The obvious choice seemed to be the experimental treatment. However, she had led a full life. She had so many memories of times and events past. Her family, growing up, the places she had visited, the people she had known, her adventures, and all the stories she had to share. What would life be without them? Sure, she could relearn how to do things but all those events and people. They would be just stories other people told her. Would she still be the same person?
What was she going to decide? What would you decide in her position?
