Feb 042010
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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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!