Man in “Vegetative State” Answers “Yes” and “No” Questions

In a study that challenges the diagnosis of vegetative state, doctors found that the brain of a seemingly unconscious, vegetative man responded to yes-or-no questions in the same fashion as an alert, conscious person. This discovery not only complicates the medical definition of consciousness, but seems to call into question centuries of philosophy dealing with the nature of life and the self. Here’s the story

If this pans out it doesn’t take a genius to see that it will revolutionize medical ethics. Lord help us!

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Thursday, February 4th, 2010 | Tags: ethics, life, news | Category: The World, Theology | One comment

1 comment to Man in “Vegetative State” Answers “Yes” and “No” Questions

• Pat

  February 5th, 2010 at 9:10 am · Reply

  As a mom of a “semi-conscious” daughter (which I will dispute with my dying breath – she knows what is going on!), I cringed when I heard the radio reporter say something to the effect that “this could lead us to know whether or not the person wants to die.” We play God where He has not asked us to play!

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