Brain-damaged woman must be given 'wake-up' pill, orders judge

Daily Mail ^ | 11/20/06 | LUCY BALLINGER

[ReignOfError]

Just let me go: I dont want to be only able to stand and clap my hands and I dont want to make paupers of my family by adding expense after expense in keeping me alive.

From the end of the article: "She smiles broadly and can even use a keyboard to communicate with people, telling them how she now hopes to speak again." No details on how sophisticated that communication is; there are plenty of instances of people deluding themselves into thinking that they're hearing from loved ones, from Ouija boards to the dubious "facilitated communication" with autistics.

If I had a life like Stephen Hawking's, I'd want to stay alive. But if I were fully conscious and aware, incapable of movement or communication, I can't imagine anything closer to hell on Earth. Especially if I had no or limited sensory input.

People in conditions of complete sensory deprivation suffer a mental crisis in a matter of minutes -- our brains are hard-wired to absorb information about our surroundings, and when deprived of input, they start making up their own. Horrid hallucinations in all five senses, intense panic; imagine the worst nightmare you've ever had, and then imagine that you can't wake up and it doesn't ever stop.

[ReignOfError]

If she wakes up and wants to go back to sleep, she can then make the decision herself on whether she wants the drug or not.

Only if she can communicate the decision. The article isn't clear on how likely that is.

[CindyDawg]

heoretically the patient could then spend the rest of her life severely disabled and aware of her condition.

I was refering to this

[sgtbono2002]

I have it written down and I have named my brother as the Judge as to when it is to be carried out. I picked him because he knows how I feel and has the guts to carry it out. My wife and kids shouldnt have to make that decision they would let their emotions rule them ,I feel my brother is capable of making the best decision.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

It's a big enough difference that the pills work on people in a PVS -- they don't work on the brain dead.

[robertpaulsen]

"It's a big enough difference that the pills work on people in a PVS"

No, it hasn't been determined whether or not they'll work on a PVS patient.

[robertpaulsen]

"they don't work on the brain dead."

My guess is that they won't work on PVS patients either.

This is starting to cross over into the Dr. Frankenstein arena -- actually worse, the monster had a functioning brain.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Precise word usage is critically important. The terms "brain dead" and "PVS" have medical and legal meaning. It's analogous to the difference between the terms "baby" and "fetus". The issues are complex enough without confusing things even more through careless misuse of terminology.

A "brain-dead" person is dead. A person in a PVS is not.

[conservative blonde]

Oh "House" that's a real good authority.

[gidget7]

didn't say it was a good authority, just said it was featured.

[wagglebee]

So are you an anarchist who doesn't believe there should be a state, or do you simply think that invalids have no due process rights? This woman HAS NO LIVING WILL, HER FAMILY ISN'T EVEN SAYING SHE WOULD WANT TO DIE. Who are you to say that this pill might not cure her?

[robertpaulsen]

"Precise word usage is critically important."

I agree. Which is why I questioned your (incorrect) statement, "the pills work on people in a PVS".

"The terms "brain dead" and "PVS" have medical and legal meaning."

Yes, and so do the terms "brain damaged", "severly brain damaged", "vegetative state", and "persistent vegetative state".

"A "brain-dead" person is dead. A person in a PVS is not."

Correct. But they do have things in common. Neither will recover. Both are on artificial life support. Neither has consciousness or ever will again.

And both are using valuable and precious hospital resources that can be better used to keep alive someone who has a chance at living.

[Recall]

Amen to that!

[syriacus]

The researchers think the reason that those with PVS come out of it has something to do with the Ambien which apparently blocks GABA, some kind of hormone or chemical that shuts the brain down to allow it to recover from trauma.

Thank you for answering my question!

[cpforlife.org]

Pro-Life PING

Please FreepMail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.

[DainBramage]

(snort)

[durasell]

I believe this drug was featured on a recent episode of House.




Holy crap! You're kidding right? You don't actually use a TV for medical information. Please tell me you're kidding...

[gidget7]

Whoa, everybody. I merely mentioned it was featured. I DID NOT say it was a place to get medical information, or that it was a reliable source, or even to what context the show featured it. It was just an observation, and a coincidence seeing it there, meaning I was familiar with the name of the drug. that's all!

[mysterio]

I hope the pill helps her.

[Drango]

Does anyone care what the 53-year-old woman wants done? This is her call and as she cannot speak, her spouse if she has one makes the call...then her family. The courts, the church, the rabble on FR should have no say.