 pokkets says: They can detect the answer to a yes/no question, from the scans of healthy volunteers. This technique could the terms used to determine the nature of unconscious states, and will help define more accurately the chances of recovery. In many cases it may be a chance for someone who was apparently vegetative state to resume active communication with the outside world. I hope this works out, but I am afraid it will give people hope where there is none. I have worked with patients in a persistent vegetative state, and I find for the most part, the families are delusional about their chances of recovery, case in point, Terri Schiavo's parents. The woman's CAT scan showed most of the frontal lobes deteriorated, and yet they expected her to wake up. The frontal lobes are the seat of conciousness. Agree, there will be ethical considerations, and probably battles such as those that have taken place when quadriplegics want to end their lives. In this case I would definitely side with the right of the patient to end their so-called life. I will be thumped, however, by disability rights activists. The article also suggested further down that if communication can be established with a patient, their wishes could be taken into account, and the responsibility of the relatives could be relieved. They've found activity, but we need to know more how this activity relates to the conscious, and free will Personally, I find death far less threatening than the prospect of being trapped in a 6"x8"x5" shell, but that kind of decision needs first hand knowledge. and every case is unique. I also thought that while there is hope, on the other hand there could be resolution, where the definitions of states from which it is possible to be restored, could be clarified, that more doubt can be removed, ... |
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