THE LONG GOODBYE
Brain dead, chronic vegetative state, terminal condition. Scientific terms clearly defined? No, as much as the medical community would like to think so. And what about the cost of hospitalization and the pain of those who wait with lessening hope for the recovery of a loved one in a coma? Reasons to withdraw life support? I hope not.
No one knows the relationship between behavior/utterances/brain activity and consciousness. There are a growing number of returnees from comas who have described in detail what was done and said to them while they were assumed to be out of it. Talk to your loved ones in comas, encourage them, and do not assume that they cannot hear you.
BILL PUETT
Chairperson , Philosophy Program , San Diego Miramar College , Medical Ethicist , Consulting Faculty Member Nurse Practitioner Program Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
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