Learning in PVS

[Dr Mordrid]

This should increase the conversation more than a little over how fast we pull the plug on some people....

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=learning-in-vegetative-state

>
In patients who have survived severe brain damage, judging the level of actual awareness has proved a difficult process. And the prognosis can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.

New research suggests that some vegetative patients are capable of simple learning—a sign of consciousness in many who had failed other traditional cognitive tests. The findings are presented in a paper today in Nature Neuroscience (Scientific American is part of the Nature Publishing Group).
>
What was more, current designation of either vegetative or minimally conscious did not determine how well patients learned. Some of those who were minimally conscious didn't learn as well as some who were classified as vegetative and vice versa. "I think there's some consensus that there is a [need for] revision in the way these patients are classified," Sigman says.
>

[Mehen]

Not saying what my opinion is either way (my opinion is usually that there needs to be more research done before I make my opinion ) but one could argue that awareness in a vegetative state is a good reason to pull the plug even sooner.

[Brian Ellis]

I have made a living will and have given solid instructions that if am in a vegetative state and there is a risk of being physically or mentally impaired should I rise out of coma, that I require them to pull the plug without delay. I allow an exception of 24 h maximum keeping me on life support should they wish to harvest any organs. This is all part of my DNR instructions.

If anyone wishes, I can post the actual language.

[TransformX]

I have made a living will and have given solid instructions that if am in a vegetative state and there is a risk of being physically or mentally impaired should I rise out of coma, that I require them to pull the plug without delay. I allow an exception of 24 h maximum keeping me on life support should they wish to harvest any organs. This is all part of my DNR instructions.

If anyone wishes, I can post the actual language.

I think we all need similar documents.

[Sasq]

agreed, I can not think of a lower level of hell, then being stuck inside my own head, being unable to communicate for X amount of years until I passed.

[Umfriend]

I have made a living will and have given solid instructions that if am in a vegetative state and there is a risk of being physically or mentally impaired should I rise out of coma, that I require them to pull the plug without delay. I allow an exception of 24 h maximum keeping me on life support should they wish to harvest any organs. This is all part of my DNR instructions.

If anyone wishes, I can post the actual language.

It will not be long before I'll make one too and that one will include the wish to get bullet to the head in case of Alzheimers and/or vascular dementia at some stage.

Not so much for the hell I'd be going through but the hell they'd be going through.

[TransformX]

Thinking about it a little more, I'd add one more exception: keep me alive for as long as you need till you make sure my life insurance pays my family everything to the last cent.