I was referring to nicmarlo's presentation of Dr. Baden's conclusion that trauma caused her to be in a "vegetative state". Your initial response also glibly stated that you were that way without your coffee [or words to that effect].
It is only logical to assume that Baden was rendering a "medical" conclusion. That is why I was attempting to have nicmarlo to reconcile the issue.
Both are right. Terri is not in a "vegetative state" as is commonly defined. In other words she is not unconscious. She is currently not totally aware, when I was referring to my pre-coffee state I was trying to give a real world example that most people will relate too. In Terri's case this is caused by brain damage (no one disputes that she is indeed brain damaged) and likely also lack of stimulation. Brain damage is treatable and improvement is possible.
In a medically defined "vegetative state" people can respond to stimuli, they can even walk with help, they certainly feel pain. This is not what is referred to as a "vegetative state" in the common usage.
It is like the terms autistic and retarded. In medical terms the meaning is quite different then in common terms. So someone can quite properly be labeled one thing in medical terms but if you used the same term in common usage the label would be wrong.