08-16-2024, 03:21 PM
I find the idea a bit disheartening, and somewhat frightening.
In truth, there is little more confounding to me than the idea of being totally aware and yet completely unable to actually do anything physically at all. It's the stuff of horror stories, and tragedies most foul.
As it appears according to recent reporting, there's a 1 in 5 chance that a person in the coma state, is somehow still functioning at a mental level... including thought processes.
From New Scientist: 1 in 5 people in a coma may be aware of their surroundings
One in five people in a coma may be “locked in”, meaning they are aware of their surroundings but unable to communicate. A large study has found that some people with severe brain damage can carry out complex mental tasks when instructed, despite not being able to move or speak.
It was easier to discount the phenomenon “when it was thought to be a rare occurrence”, says Nicholas Schiff at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. But now, given the latest study, “no one can ignore it”.
People with so-called disorders of consciousness are either in a coma or a vegetative state, where they show no awareness of their environment, or a minimally conscious state, where they show occasional signs of arousal, such as opening their eyes, but minimal awareness. In 2019, researchers discovered that 1 in 10 of these individuals may be locked in.
Sadly, in my opinion, the knowledge seems to have immediately been peppered with an "end-of-life" approach. Making it about the idea that life-support discontinuation should be the focal 'effort' behind the discovery. At least that how it feels to me.
This study is of immense importance, says Raanan Gillon, emeritus professor of medical ethics at Imperial College London. For many people, the prospect of being kept alive in a non-conscious state is at best futile and at worst abhorrent, he says. “If, however, there is a significant probability that the lack of consciousness is only apparent, as these studies suggest may be the case, it can be anticipated that more people would wish to be kept alive and be consulted about their wishes before decisions are taken to discontinue life-prolonging treatment.”
At least they acknowledge that any such decision falls on the patient... but recently it seems that's a "for now" thing... again, that's my own opinion. (We already know that certain doctrines eagerly wish to end any life they can't control.) Forgive me... it's hard to keep skepticism from becoming cynicism sometimes.
In truth, there is little more confounding to me than the idea of being totally aware and yet completely unable to actually do anything physically at all. It's the stuff of horror stories, and tragedies most foul.
As it appears according to recent reporting, there's a 1 in 5 chance that a person in the coma state, is somehow still functioning at a mental level... including thought processes.
From New Scientist: 1 in 5 people in a coma may be aware of their surroundings
One in five people in a coma may be “locked in”, meaning they are aware of their surroundings but unable to communicate. A large study has found that some people with severe brain damage can carry out complex mental tasks when instructed, despite not being able to move or speak.
It was easier to discount the phenomenon “when it was thought to be a rare occurrence”, says Nicholas Schiff at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York. But now, given the latest study, “no one can ignore it”.
People with so-called disorders of consciousness are either in a coma or a vegetative state, where they show no awareness of their environment, or a minimally conscious state, where they show occasional signs of arousal, such as opening their eyes, but minimal awareness. In 2019, researchers discovered that 1 in 10 of these individuals may be locked in.
Sadly, in my opinion, the knowledge seems to have immediately been peppered with an "end-of-life" approach. Making it about the idea that life-support discontinuation should be the focal 'effort' behind the discovery. At least that how it feels to me.
This study is of immense importance, says Raanan Gillon, emeritus professor of medical ethics at Imperial College London. For many people, the prospect of being kept alive in a non-conscious state is at best futile and at worst abhorrent, he says. “If, however, there is a significant probability that the lack of consciousness is only apparent, as these studies suggest may be the case, it can be anticipated that more people would wish to be kept alive and be consulted about their wishes before decisions are taken to discontinue life-prolonging treatment.”
At least they acknowledge that any such decision falls on the patient... but recently it seems that's a "for now" thing... again, that's my own opinion. (We already know that certain doctrines eagerly wish to end any life they can't control.) Forgive me... it's hard to keep skepticism from becoming cynicism sometimes.
