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Barbara Rager wrote: > But you are a medical person. What do you mean that he died from this? > I'm sure that we are all aware of complications associated with it which > could eventually be terminal in their own right: pneumonia, choking, > falling. etc. But did you in fact mean to say that Parkinson's is itself > a terminal illness? I think this is an important distinction. I would very > much like to have clarification from you or anyone else with information on > this matter. Barbara, You are indeed correct. My father-in-law actually died of pneumonia but the complications of his PD played a major role. He was, as I previously wrote to the List, 92 years old and had some "other things" wrong with him also; but the PD, by immobilizing him, did the deed indirectly through the pneumonia. David had responded well to Sinemet and later the addition of Eldepryl; but he eventually escaped the effects. He was not interested in surgery and we respected his wishes (and I actually agreed that he was not a good candidate for pallidotomy). He was mentally sharp right up until the end. Best, Bob *********************************** ROBERT A. FINK, M. D., F.A.C.S. Neurological Surgery 2500 Milvia Street Suite 222 Berkeley, CA 94704-2636 USA Phone: (510) 849-2555 FAX: (510) 849-2557 WWW: <http://www.dovecom.com/rafink/> mailto:[log in to unmask] "Ex Tristitia Virtus" ***********************************