In the news today on BBC Radio Five Live Breakfast there was a story about a woman called ‘M’ whose case is due in court today. Her sister, partner and medical authorities are petitioning to withdraw the apparatus feeding her. They feel that the extent of the brain damage caused by encephalitis in 2009 means that she is in a Minimally Conscious State (MCS) and can have no quality of life. A definition of MCS was first proposed in 2002:
“A condition of severely altered consciousness in which minimal but definite behavioural evidence of self or environmental awareness is demonstrated.”*
Evidence presented today will include the fact that ‘M’ is only aware of the day/night cycle. Further, it has been demonstrated she can push a button in response to stimuli but only inconsistently.
Currently there have been over 40 judgements by the courts in England and Wales allowing the withdrawal of feeding. However, ‘M’ is the first case not in the Permanent Vegetative State. These are patients who survive catastrophic brain damage but are more or less permanently unaware.
‘M’ is not in this condition and it does not seem that she ever will be. I am sure that if she was able to respond to the tests, the doctors and her family would be doing all that they can to help her. I hope for her sake and the sake of those patients to follow her having the same none-ability to do things there isn’t a test yet to be discovered that will show conscious awareness.
I have blogged twice on this condition before these can be seen in my archive on 20/10/2008 and 8/12/2008 if interested!
* Dr. Joseph T. Giacino et. al. (2002). Neurology Volume 58, Number 3
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In the news today on BBC Radio Five Live Breakfast there was a story about a woman called ‘M’ whose case is due in court today. Her sister, partner and medical authorities are petitioning to withdraw the apparatus feeding her. They feel that the extent of the brain damage caused by encephalitis in 2009 means that she is in a Minimally Conscious State (MCS) and can have no quality of life. A definition of MCS was first proposed in 2002:
“A condition of severely altered consciousness in which minimal but definite behavioural evidence of self or environmental awareness is demonstrated.”*
Evidence presented today will include the fact that ‘M’ is only aware of the day/night cycle. Further, it has been demonstrated she can push a button in response to stimuli but only inconsistently.
Currently there have been over 40 judgements by the courts in England and Wales allowing the withdrawal of feeding. However, ‘M’ is the first case not in the Permanent Vegetative State. These are patients who survive catastrophic brain damage but are more or less permanently unaware.
‘M’ is not in this condition and it does not seem that she ever will be. I am sure that if she was able to respond to the tests, the doctors and her family would be doing all that they can to help her. I hope for her sake and the sake of those patients to follow her having the same none-ability to do things there isn’t a test yet to be discovered that will show conscious awareness.
I have blogged twice on this condition before these can be seen in my archive on 20/10/2008 and 8/12/2008 if interested!
* Dr. Joseph T. Giacino et. al. (2002). Neurology Volume 58, Number 3
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