The entire point of Aeon is to write "longform explorations of deep issues". Not all--maybe not even most--content exists merely to transfer some tiny bit of information.

The point isn't really the length. It's the overly sentimental tone that blurs subjective perspective and the matter being reported on. There's a point in the piece were the author asserts that everyone in the operating room seemingly stared at each other not knowing why they were there followed by the author fantasizing if the patient may rise from the dead.

That's almost certainly not what happened in the room but is the author blurring his almost literary account with reality. It's a very common almost manipulative style in newer journalism when writers want to contrast their emotional state vs an allegedly harsh reality.

Does this claim to be "journalism"?

You're reading it wrongly, and I say that as one who 99 times out of a hundred has no use whatsoever for the nonsense Aeon typically peddles. This is the exception, even to the repeated fears over AI, which while technologically footless for the foreseeable future nonetheless express something real and worth considering.

The danger of commenting like I did at all is that it's not a universal experience. I found it insightful sitting in an airport killing time. Perhaps consider accentuating the positive ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I’m glad eknkc commented negatively because now I know the sort of article it is and can avoid it. We should not just focus on the positive.

I left my comment when it was at risk of falling off the front page with no comments. Utilitarian, to hopefully see an insightful discussion from those more informed.

I see where you're coming from and perhaps what I meant is something closer to 'build things up rather than tear them down'. You've got two conflicting opinions. Theirs and mine. Inquire inside the article to see which of us is a worthy recommender of casual content to consume on the internet

I think in this case it’s a long-running question of taste. Some people like this style of writing, and some people do not.