PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - D J Wilkinson
AU  - G Kahane
AU  - M Horne
AU  - J Savulescu
TI  - Functional neuroimaging and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from vegetative patients
AID  - 10.1136/jme.2008.029165
DP  - 2009 Aug 01
TA  - Journal of Medical Ethics
PG  - 508--511
VI  - 35
IP  - 8
4099  - http://jme.bmj.com/content/35/8/508.short
4100  - http://jme.bmj.com/content/35/8/508.full
SO  - J Med Ethics2009 Aug 01; 35
AB  - Recent studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging of patients in a vegetative state have raised the possibility that such patients retain some degree of consciousness. In this paper, the ethical implications of such findings are outlined, in particular in relation to decisions about withdrawing life-sustaining treatment. It is sometimes assumed that if there is evidence of consciousness, treatment should not be withdrawn. But, paradoxically, the discovery of consciousness in very severely brain-damaged patients may provide more reason to let them die. Although functional neuroimaging is likely to play an increasing role in the assessment of patients in a vegetative state, caution is needed in the interpretation of neuroimaging findings.