Comments on: Next Step: Comatose Pong? http://www.attackofthemonkey.com/blog/2006/10/04/next-step-comatose-pong/ Science News ... Monkey Spin Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:02:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Jim http://www.attackofthemonkey.com/blog/2006/10/04/next-step-comatose-pong/#comment-67 Jim Thu, 05 Oct 2006 15:40:45 +0000 http://www.attackofthemonkey.com/blog/2006/10/04/next-step-comatose-pong/#comment-67 I wonder if this was a reflexive or conscious action on the part of the coma patient. For example, can a person in a vegetative state process auditory input and respond involuntarily, as if by reflex? Or does this person retain enough consciousness to hear, understand, and respond voluntarily, albeit in a limited way? This study raises some serious ethical concerns regarding euthanasia. I wonder if this was a reflexive or conscious action on the part of the coma patient. For example, can a person in a vegetative state process auditory input and respond involuntarily, as if by reflex? Or does this person retain enough consciousness to hear, understand, and respond voluntarily, albeit in a limited way? This study raises some serious ethical concerns regarding euthanasia.

]]> By: monkey http://www.attackofthemonkey.com/blog/2006/10/04/next-step-comatose-pong/#comment-68 monkey Wed, 11 Oct 2006 02:56:00 +0000 http://www.attackofthemonkey.com/blog/2006/10/04/next-step-comatose-pong/#comment-68 It certainly does raise some serious questions. And another potentially painful point for those for whom this could be a last hope: Dr. Owen said, “It is important to emphasise that if we don’t see responses in a patient it does not necessarily mean that they are not aware. Future work will investigate whether the technique can be used more widely in these patients and whether this discovery could lead to a way of communicating with some patients who may be aware, but unable to move or speak.” It certainly does raise some serious questions. And another potentially painful point for those for whom this could be a last hope:

Dr. Owen said, “It is important to emphasise that if we don’t see responses in a patient it does not necessarily mean that they are not aware. Future work will investigate whether the technique can be used more widely in these patients and whether this discovery could lead to a way of communicating with some patients who may be aware, but unable to move or speak.”

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