[shhrubbery!]

Though doctors have said Joseph is in a “vegetative state," Dr. Byrne called it a “made-up term” similar to the notion of “brain death,” which he said was invented “simply to get beating hearts for transplantation.”

Important words to remember.

Do not let doctors tell you your loved one is
a "vegetable"
or "in a vegetative state"
or "brain dead."

These are made-up terms, as Dr. Byrne says.

They were made up by an arrogant class of doctors/bureaucrats/organ profiteers, in order to convince frightened or confused family members to take their loved ones off of "life support," when this is often not in the patient's best interest.

[EternalVigilance]

It’s beyond me why anyone would ever trust a “doctor” who doesn’t know the difference between vegetables and human beings.

[sometime lurker]

Sorry, but these are "made up terms" the same way all medical terms are "made up." There are guidelines for determining brain death. There are indeed unfortunates who are brain dead - no brain function - whose hearts keep beating. Do you want them all on a ventilator permanently?