TagTerri Schiavo
The Media Still Can’t Get Facts about Terri Schiavo Right
The Terri Schiavo case tipped this country’s morality. Before her death, people couldn’t believe we dehydrate cognitively disabled people to death. Afterward, a majority supported it
Can People in Comas Have Abstract Thoughts?
Neurosurgeon Michael Egnor discusses how we might test for that abilityIn the recent podcast, “Michael Egnor on Whether People in Comas Can Think,” Robert J. Marks raised an interesting point with Egnor: Can people in comas think abstractly or do they form thoughts only at a much more basic level, given how physically distressed they are? The answer might surprise you.
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Can Loved Ones in a Coma Hear Us?
Modern brain imaging studies show that very often they can. And, with help from new technology, they can answer us tooPioneering research using brain imaging (fMRI) over the last fifteen years has shown that, even in deep coma, people can hear, understand, and respond. It’s no longer just anecdotes from caregivers. The controversial Terri Schiavo case might be decided very differently today.
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