by APFLI | May 20, 2015 | Diagnosis - Brain Function / Coma / Persistant Vegetative State / Locked In Syndrome / Awakenings
A Virginia family was shocked but relieved when their mother, Val Thomas, woke up after doctors said she was dead. Mrs. Thomas, 59, while being kept breathing artificially, had no detectable brain waves for more than 17 hours. The family was discussing organ donation...
by APFLI | May 19, 2015 | Euthanasia / Assisted Suicide - Archive
A California man awoke from a coma right before his doctors were about to disconnect his life support. The story gives more credence to the notion that families should avoid making premature decisions to take the life of a loved one, because of the possibility of...
by APFLI | May 16, 2015 | Euthanasia / Assisted Suicide - Archive
Bioethicists attempting to define people in supposed PVS as “brain dead” and source of organs Many people will have read the story of Rom Houben, the Belgium man who was diagnosed as being in a permanent vegetative state (PVS) for 23 years, but who in fact...
by APFLI | May 16, 2015 | Euthanasia / Assisted Suicide - Archive
[This article appears flippant. However, the information is worth ignoring the flippancy.] Electric circuits will break your heart every time. Take my cellphone (please): it went out in the rain a few weeks ago and then lay neglected in a sopping wet coat pocket...