3.22.2005

Persistent vegetative state often hopeless, deceiving

Question: What is Terri Schiavo's medical condition?

Answer: She is in what is described as a persistent vegetative state, and people observing such a patient can be deceived by things like eye movements and reflexes, experts say.

"It creates this ironic combination of wakefulness without awareness"
-Dr. James Bernat, neurology professor at Dartmouth Medical School

Video showing Terri Schiavo appearing to interact with her family has been televised nationally. But a court-appointed doctor has said the noises and facial expressions are merely reflexes, and a state court ordered the tube removed.

Why won't people put their emotions on hold for a moment and listen to the people who know? For Terri's sake.

Read this excellent question and answer article.

I noticed that the web site shown at the bottom of the article isn't a true link. Here is a linked version.
www.abanet.org/rppt/public/living-wills.htmllivingwills

No comments: