[Tarantulas]

What you don't seem to understand is that both the label of PVS and a feeding tube are now murder weapons. PVS is considered a terminal illness because by definition a true PVS patient dies within a year. Therefore it is essential to have that diagnosis in order to remove food and water from someone.

That's not very "persistent" then, is it?

Some patients may regain a degree of awareness after persistent vegetative state. Others may remain in a vegetative state for years or even decades. The most common cause of death for a person in a vegetative state is infection such as pneumonia.

Reference

[MarMema]

I finally posted this right from the journal because I was tired of debate with people about it

"The adjective "persistent" refers only to a condition of past and continuing disability with an uncertain future"

"A wakeful unconscious state that lasts longer than a few weeks is referred to as a persistent vegetative state."

[winstonchurchill]

Reference

An excellent summary on PVS. Cuts both ways on the Terri issues.