We find that the latter studies are possibly the most informative on the potential temporal equivalence among pain intensity levels. In addition to being exclusively focused on pain, they were the only studies assessing painful conditions by patients experiencing the pain. We find it unlikely that the most intense pain experienced is of an Excruciating nature as defined in the Welfare Footprint framework, since this category is by definition associated with extreme and unbearable pain, not tolerated even if for a few seconds [emphasis mine] (a definition which does not coincide with the description of the patients in the studies above).
Could you clarify what you mean ānot toleratedā? You estimated a broiler in a conventional scenario spends 30 s in excrutiating pain. So I guess ānot toleratedā does not mean ābecoming unconsciousā.
The academic studies did not look into excruciating pain, but there may be events which most people have experienced involving very short instances of excruciating pain? For example, touching on something very hot (and then reflexively moving the hand away), or getting a few droplets of boiling water in oneās hands? If these do involve excruciating pain, for how long does it typically last? If we could know this, it may be possible to ask people about trade-offs between those events and others involving milder pains to empirically estimate the intensity of excruciating pain (in an ethical way, without subjecting people to additional extreme pain)?
By not tolerated we mean that Excruciating pain canāt be sustained for long (e.g., hours, as opposed to minutes) without neurological shutdown. It will tend to overrides an organismās ability to function or respond coherently, with even powerful opioids providing minimal relief, or desperate attempts to escape pain even at the risk of death . Examples would include severe burning in large areas of the body, dismemberment, or extreme torture. Examiing empirically trade-offs with milder pain could be interesting, but may be challenging given the nature of truly excruciating pain . Perhaps comparing to severe but more sustained pain (like bone fractures)?
Could you clarify what you mean ānot toleratedā? You estimated a broiler in a conventional scenario spends 30 s in excrutiating pain. So I guess ānot toleratedā does not mean ābecoming unconsciousā.
The academic studies did not look into excruciating pain, but there may be events which most people have experienced involving very short instances of excruciating pain? For example, touching on something very hot (and then reflexively moving the hand away), or getting a few droplets of boiling water in oneās hands? If these do involve excruciating pain, for how long does it typically last? If we could know this, it may be possible to ask people about trade-offs between those events and others involving milder pains to empirically estimate the intensity of excruciating pain (in an ethical way, without subjecting people to additional extreme pain)?
By not tolerated we mean that Excruciating pain canāt be sustained for long (e.g., hours, as opposed to minutes) without neurological shutdown. It will tend to overrides an organismās ability to function or respond coherently, with even powerful opioids providing minimal relief, or desperate attempts to escape pain even at the risk of death . Examples would include severe burning in large areas of the body, dismemberment, or extreme torture.
Examiing empirically trade-offs with milder pain could be interesting, but may be challenging given the nature of truly excruciating pain . Perhaps comparing to severe but more sustained pain (like bone fractures)?