[shhrubbery!]

PVS patients are described as 'awake but not aware'. Unlike patients in a coma their eyes are open but they see nothing and are not conscious of their surroundings.

As many FReepers already know, the above statement is false.

It has been proved via PET scans that PVS patients have intense, intelligent brain activity in response to recorded voices of loved ones. Great article on this topic: New York Times: What if there IS something going on in there?

...woman in a vegetative state should be allowed to die

There is no such thing as "allowing" PVS patients to die. PVS patients are not in extremis. You can cause them to die by starving and dehydrating them to death, sure. But "allow," no.

[robertpaulsen]

"It has been proved via PET scans ..."

Yeah right. When you have an article entitled, "New York Times: There IS something going on in there!", I'll start paying attention.

Besides, your article is not about PVS patients. Why did you reference it? Why did you waste my time?

"There is no such thing as "allowing" PVS patients to die."

Yes there is. Removing artificial feeding is withdrawing treatment, thereby allowing the patient to die.