NY44M,
That is a one of the saddest things I can think of--and no one at Bethel apparently batted an eyelash at it.
It's one of 2 things--in Jehovah's eyes, even senility and advanced dementia is no excuse for not "preaching the good news", or appearances are far more important than effectiveness, or even compassion. It would "appear" bad to have an inactive/irregular publisher on the Governing Body--even if it means subjecting a poor, sick old man to being propped up with a magazine on his chest.
Not sure which is worse.