For nineteen years following a truck crash in 1984, Terry Wallis was paralyzed. At first comatose, he drifted into what is termed a “persistent vegetative state” (PVS). This is characterized by periods of apparent wakefulness, with open eyes and emitted sounds, although the person is unresponsive to stimuli, such as the voice of a family member. Very few people survive PVS. So the question arises: should such patients be maintained – often for years – on life-support, including food and hydration, or should they be removed and allowed (i.e., compelled) to die?
The question was answered when Terry Wallis, on June 11 of this year, emerged from his inner imprisonment and spoke to his mother. A simple regimen of anti-depressants seems to have improved his condition dramatically, to the point that he is now on the way to full recovery.