World's Oldest Person Dies at 115

(AP)  The world's oldest known person has died in Los Angeles at age 115.

Dr. Charles Witt says Gertrude Baines died Friday at a hospital. The doctor says she likely suffered a heart attack but an autopsy will be conducted to confirm the cause of death.

Baines was born in 1894 in Shellman, Georgia. She became the world's oldest living person when a 115-year-old woman, Maria de Jesus, died in Portugal in January.

Baines received a letter from the president when she celebrated her 115th birthday April 6.

The oldest person in the world is now 114-year-old Kama Chinen, who lives in Japan. That's according to Dr. L. Stephen Coles of the Gerontology Research Group at the University of California Los Angeles Medical Center. The group tracks claims of extreme old age.

[petesis]

I would autopsy her just to take a look and see the condition of her organs etc. That is a remarkable age and there must be something that could be learned.

[spiritwalk]

You would autopsy her, but would you pay for the autopsy? People can't get health coverage in this country but you would be willing to pay thousands of dollars to find out why a 115 year old died.

It is like getting a diagnostic check on a 72 Pinto. It just wore out. Accept it and move on.

[rhs648]

It is my understanding that an autopsy is not requited unless the death is of a suspicious nature or if the person has an illness. Is it possible that this woman was in good health therefore requiring an autopsy?

[spiritwalk]

Why do they need to autopsy this woman? Is the death of a 115 year old woman suspicious? Do they really expect to be able to discover something that will help keep another 115 year old from being cut down in the prime of life?

[woeisme1]

Doing an autopsy can be invaluable to the surviving family. It can help them understand their own genetic history for one thing.

Many if not all medical providers want a family medical history in your file.

[spiritwalk]

Doesn't surprise me that woeisme1 would come up with a silly reason. Genetic teting does not need an autopsy, you just take a DNA swab.

If you want to spend $10,000 in order to find out what killed a 115 year old woman that is your money to waste, but if you are desperate to have closure then the money would probably be better spent for some counseling for yourself because you definitely have some serious issues about letting go.