wendiesan
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Since Isabelle is a verified RN, she's using very specific terminology to describe what is likely happening to Jahi's body. As a civilian in such matters, I would tend to use decomposing and deteriorating as though they were interchangeable. Even in some medical dictionaries, the terms are used in that way. I'm sure, however, that within the medical community, and possibly religious and other communities, the connotations are very nuanced and would put an even greater distance between what word would be acceptable to some people in certain circumstances rather than in others.
The dictionary meaning of decompose is to rot, or break up, or to analyse by taking apart. Therefore, the synonyms would be words like, crumble, disintegrate, dissolve, fester, putrify, turn, and so on. http://thesaurus.com/browse/decompose
Looking at medical dictionaries, the definition of decomposition according to Dorland's Medical Dictionary for Health Consumers is "the separation of compound bodies into their constituent principles" (http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/decomposition); according to The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary the meanings are "1. the act or result of decomposing, disintegration. 2. Separation into constituents by chemical reaction. 3. The breakdown or decay of organic materials; lysis". According to Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition, decomposition is "1. the separation of compound bodies into their component principles. 2. deterioration and decay of a substance."
On further checking I found a response from a Dr. Shashikant (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081209170612AAFfZGl) that seemed to give an explanation with regard to the connotations of the word. "Decomposition (or spoilage) refers to the process by which the tissue of a dead organism breaks down into simpler forms of matter." (my bold)
The meaning of deteriorate is to become less in value or quality or character, to disintegrate or wear away. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/deteriorate. In the American Heritage Medical Dictionary, the definition reads "1. to grow worse in function or condition 2. to weaken or disintegrate." The synonyms include words like crumble, decline, fade, fail, corrupt, retrograde, retrogess, and so on. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/deteriorate
Dr. Shashikant comments on another term which may be relevant in our discussion. According to him the word biodegradation is used to describe "the process by which organic substances are broken down by the enzymes produced by living organisms." my bold
I think Isabelle's point is that, in her opinion, Jahi's heart is still beating and, although her entire brain and brainstem have ceased to produce any electrical activity, thanks to the addition of drugs, nutrients, and oxygen through medical intervention, the rest of systems and organs housed by Jahi's body have not yet broken down. Therefore, she is, to some extent, alive. To describe the process by which the cells are breaking down as decomposition would be to describe a human being who may be incapable of breathing, feeling, thinking, remembering, or digesting on her own as being dead when, in the opinion of some people, she is still, as far as we know, in the process of dying. Albeit a protracted process thanks to medical intervention. Therefore, in describing what is happening to this little girl's body, it would be more accurate and much more respectful of Jahi's journey, to refer to that process through a term like biodegradation or deterioration. I suspect it is the way that deterioration also implies that the process is happening over a period of time, as Jahi's body can no longer regenerate the requisite cells to replace those being lost.
Am I sort of in the ballpark on this? I don't believe anyone means to be disrespectful Isabelle. I appreciate your pointing out that there is a difference which has particular meaning in this case.
