We cannot deny the existence of weapons of mass destruction nor can we go back in any way or sense in time. Science and technology will enable us to replace more vital organs, and the responsibility of questions concerning life and death, donors and recipients will increase manifoldly. Legal, moral, ethical, and psychological problems will be posed to the present and future generation which will decide questions of life and death in ever increasing numbers until these decisions, too, will probably be made by computers.
Though every man will attempt in his own way to postpone such questions and issues until he is forced to face them, he will only be able to change things if he can start to conceive of his own death. This cannot be done on a mass level. This cannot be done by computers. This has to be done by every human being alone. Each one of us has the need to avoid this issue, yet each one of us has to face it sooner or later. If all of us could make a start by contemplating the possibility of our own personal death, we may effect many things, most important of all the welfare of our patients, our families, and finally perhaps our nation.