Posted on 09/07/2003 1:17:49 PM PDT by MarMema
Coma and Persistent Vegetative State
A coma is a profound or deep state of unconsciousness. The affected individual is alive but is not able to react or respond to life around him/her. Coma may occur as an expected progression or complication of an underlying illness, or as a result of an event such as head trauma.
A persistent vegetative state, which sometimes follows a coma, refers to a condition in which individuals have lost cognitive neurological function and awareness of the environment but retain noncognitive function and a perserved sleep-wake cycle.
It is sometimes described as when a person is technically alive, but his/her brain is dead. However, that description is not completely accurate. In persistent vegetative state the individual loses the higher cerebral powers of the brain, but the functions of the brainstem, such as respiration (breathing) and circulation, remain relatively intact. Spontaneous movements may occur and the eyes may open in response to external stimuli, but the patient does not speak or obey commands. Patients in a vegetative state may appear somewhat normal. They may occasionally grimace, cry, or laugh.
Is there any treatment?
Once the patient is out of immediate danger, although still in coma or vegetative state, the medical care team will concentrate on preventing infections and maintaining the patient's physical state as much as possible. Such maintenance includes preventing pneumonia and bed sores and providing balanced nutrition. Physical therapy may also be used to prevent contractures (permanent muscular contractions) and orthopedic deformities that would limit recovery for the patients who emerge from coma.
What is the prognosis?
The outcome for coma and vegetative state depends on the cause and on the location, severity, and extent of neurological damage: outcomes range from recovery to death. People may emerge from a coma with a combination of physical, intellectual, and psychological difficulties that need special attention.
Recovery usually occurs gradually, with patients acquiring more and more ability to respond. [Something Michael Schiavo appears to have been leary of and has sought to prevent by withholding rehab therapy that has been allotted for through the malpractice suit settlement. THIS IS MY OPINION, for those monitoring the posts] Some patients never progress beyond very basic responses, but many recover full awareness. Patients recovering from coma require close medical supervision. A coma rarely lasts more than 2 to 4 weeks. Some patients may regain a degree of awareness after vegetative state. Others may remain in a vegetative state for years or even decades. The most common cause of death for a person in a vegetative state is infection such as pneumonia.
Information provided by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health
But I am still holding out hope for the federal court filing.
In persistent vegetative state the individual loses the higher cerebral powers of the brain, but the functions of the brainstem, such as respiration (breathing) and circulation, remain relatively intact. Spontaneous movements may occur and the eyes may open in response to external stimuli, but the patient does not speak or obey commands.
When one reads up on a few of the recent cases where the patient claimed to be in PVS were executed via starvation and withholding fluids, one sees that a move is clearly afoot to change the standard of PVS! Terri is able to follow simple commands, as even one of Greers ghouls attested to!!
Eighty to ninety percent is a BIG number. How many people are being killed by misdiagnosis?
This is an excellent point. Thank you, MarMema. Good post. Passing it on.
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Governor Jeb Bush (R) The Honorable(?) George W. Greer Attorney General Charlie Crist Honorable Bernie McCabe State Attorney's Office
Sixth Judicial Circuit
PO Box 5028
Clearwater, FL, 33758
Phone (727) 464-6221
Suncom: 570-6221
Title: State Attorney
Region Number: 9
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They owe Terri that for the years they neglected to investigate this scandal and/or inform "we the people", imho.
Florida (+) Press:
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