RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Functional neuroimaging and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from vegetative patients
JF Journal of Medical Ethics
JO J Med Ethics
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Institute of Medical Ethics
SP 508
OP 511
DO 10.1136/jme.2008.029165
VO 35
IS 8
A1 D J Wilkinson
A1 G Kahane
A1 M Horne
A1 J Savulescu
YR 2009
UL http://jme.bmj.com/content/35/8/508.abstract
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 It is sometimes assumed that if there is evidence of consciousness, treatment should not be withdrawn.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.