Once upon a time I was in a coma, only for a week fortunately. I knew everything that was going on. It was the strangest thing I've ever been through. Tried my hardest just to wiggle a finger but couldn't. But, I could hear everything that everyone said. Ticked me off when the doctor told my husband I was most likely going to die and to get things in order. I knew my time wasn't up and I wasn't going anywhere. It really ticked me off.
A couple of months later, when I had my strength back, I had a talk with the doctor. Told him to watch what he says in front of patients. He was a bit surprised when I told him some of the things I remembered. The human mind, body and spirt is the most amazing thing.
Moral Absolutes Ping.
Please read Oorang's comment about her own personal coma experience.
Here's my understanding - since each human being is an eternal soul - atma - spiritual particle - and the body is a vehicle, consciousness is the quality of the soul, so even if the body is not functioning properly, as long as the soul is still there, there is still some kind of consciousness.
If this were not so, stories like those on this thread (and countless others) would not be true.
It is true that people in coma can often hear. It is only simple kindness to assume they can, and not speak in front of them what you don't want them to hear - and to read, sing, pray and talk to them. And not to kill them.
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Note: Let God decide what their departure date is; after all, they belong to Him.