How to avoid being buried alive

[Kevin9]

I watched a programme on Five this evening about people who have been buried alive or have been pronounced dead but later woke up in a morgue. Some of the causes are narcolepsy and commas, and doctors think you're dead when you're not. When this happens you can hear what's going on around you but you can't respond and let people know you're alive in any way. So I thought.. how could you let them know. I thought of putting on my will 'If you think I'm dead, please could the doctor try anything to see if I get an erection, and if it works then I'm not dead and you can leave me to recover'. Would it work though, or like the rest of the body just not be able to move ? This is a serious question as I'm scared it might happen to me now :|

[comloulou]

I would'nt worry too much about this. If you were in a coma your heartmonitor would be a-beeping merrily and if you had narcolepsy I imagine your heart would still beat. I think its general practice to be pretty sure someones dead before cremating them of putting them in the ground but if you're really worried you could invest in any number of Victorian devices to help you get out out of your premature grave grave...including, a bell (but you'd need to invest in someone to listen out for it) or a glass window in the coffin and a little hammer and spade set. All good fun.

[Andromeda]

You could just subscribe to organ donation - by the time they've finished then you certainly will be dead.

Actually, as comloulou says it's not too much of a problem now. Your heart will still beat (albeit very slowly) and that can be detected. More importantly your brain will still be functioning (sufferers report hallucinations etc) and can be measured electrically. Historically catalepsy (as being more like death than narcolepsy) was often dianosed as death as there was no way of detecting such minute signs as a very slow heart, extremely slow and shallow breathing and electrical brain activity.

Andy

[andjac]

Do you like doctors Kevin?

[Janetx]

Sorry to hear you have this fear; have you considered cremation?