rvk - do you know - were both Profiles marked deceased before the merge? Or just one? And was "cause of death" in Primary Profile or ?
Your problem may possibly be related to ones I mentioned here: http://www.geni.com/discussions/138573 -- see my first two posts - posts 1 & 3 in discussion -- I think I recall at least some of first set being addressed elsewhere and Mike saying he fixed them - but no idea where, and not sure.
I do not do a lot of merges, and often no cause of death entered. However, I now will be on the look-out for the problem you mention when I do do merges. Aaarrggh. Always something. Thanks for alerting us.