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I don't think I'd really care if I'm in coma or vegatative state

What and why would I care? I don't think people in coma are screaming inside.  This article says if you do this, that and the other you may get one or two nod.  So for all practical purposes when you're in coma you're out of it and wouldn't care one way or another.  I don't think staring at the ceiling in coma is similar to being awake and get bored over it! Again, I think we're guessing on how a person in coma "thinks" or "feels". 

Everything is sacred.

Ari, clarification on sound & touch

By different environments, I meant sites injured in the brain. 

In all treatment modalities, efficacy of stimulant considers patient's Hx, developmental stage and site of trauma.  Therefore it would not be reasonable to assume that touch would not work effectively with a patient who has experienced physical abuse.  

I will catch Awakenings for sure.  

Speaking of prisoners in solitary confinement reminded me of my uncle at Evin, whose preferred survival strategy was to have mental personal conversations with Khayyam, all day long for years, even when he was under physical and mental tortures.  He said Khayyam literally saved his life.   

Very intriguing, Monda

Holly, my happy trail

I have arranged my will so that 3 people have permission to pull the plug on me when the time comes.  I'm happy with that decision  :o)

vildemose, brain stimulation is Key

Comatose or Not, not only because of this particular study.

Ari here's what I think

You are comparing different quality of trauma in two different environments.  Sensory input works well with most trauma, if not all.  It's just that with certain personality disorders which prisoners suffer from, it's a very delicate task. (Providing that they have gone through a just assessment of their behavior).

I don't have first hand clinical knowledge of work with prisoners but interestingly Ari, just tonight i was having a margarita with my Dutch girlfriend who was telling me about visualization, CBT and mindfulness techniques working with prisoners in Holland. It's a very gentle system and a very small industry compared to the prison system in the US.  So in-house therapy works much better.

Depending on the comatose person's character structure and background before trauma, variety of art forms from literature (did you see Almadovar's "Talk To Her"?), music, even touch(yes it's an art) have been shown effective.  I read about a grandmother's touch of her granddaughter's hand, daily, or lover's caressing a trauma victim's hair, as precursors to strong vital signs/ neuropathic induction.  Research shows audio as the most powerful (even in form of talking in a patient's ear, especially their favorite subjects)  and then touch, on the list of sensory stimulants.

Anonymouse jan there is no good or bad in life

only case-specific.

Agreed

I don't disagree with anything you said. It is hard to tell which is why I think it is wise, at least for myself, to think it through and talk about it to loved ones and pay attention to similar situations as they arise so that I will hopefully be somewhat resolved and those close to me will have heard it from me rather than have to take a guess at what I may want. I tell you, THAT is the worst situation to be in, to have to make the decision for someone and not know what they would want for themselves.
Ok nuff said. off to happier trails :)

End of life is tough. God really screwed that part!

You know I don't think we can really imagine what goes through one's mind when they get to that stage.  We are healthy and ok and think it may be better off for the person to pass. Whereas only that person knows how long s/he can stay that way.  S/he probably has a different sense of time than we do. Or quality of life for that matter.

I don't think it is selfish for the loved ones.  I think if the person says s/he is tired and ready to say goodbye, the loved ones will respect that.  I think the love is mutual.  The old/sick person may still see something in that stage that is worth hanging around and the loved ones will then want to keep that person alive for as long as possible.

I don't want to talk about this anymore.  kidding!  But seriously it's tough and I don't want to go on talking about it much.  I just don't know and think we won't know until we're there.

Everything is sacred.

Anonymouse jan

Switzerland is a backup plan incase I'm not in a state where I can pick up some damn pills and swallow them myself! Then a friend will assist me on the trip since laying the assistance with suicide is too much to lay on anybody you know! And no it isn't necessarily true that if u are well enough to travel there u're well enough to live. What if you are in the final god awful stages of cancer? There are even conditions that are not necessarily terminal that I wouldn't want to live with but would be able to travel with.The only thing I worry about is if I am in a coma and don't get to make the decision myself.

As for family and loved ones wanting to have you for as long as possible, I understand but I also think that is selfish. I've lost loved ones in a conditions where they would have ben much better off passing (even sooner than they did). It I could afford them that I think anyone that loves me should have the same selflessness toward me also. If and when the time comes I'll convince them that it is for the best ;)

I'm with you on hoping there are better ways to handle the whole thing if and when we get to that point.

Holly jaan if ur well enuf 2 travel 2 Swiss ur good enuf 2 live!

Switzerland is maghshad! I hope by the time and if I get to make an end of life decision there are easier ways than travelling to a cold country for the operation.  Although come to think of it maybe I can go via a stretcher on the plane and then they can take me straight to the hospital and just pull the plug!  I don't think they need to do any tests or pre-op! 

One thing to consider though on this euthansia issue, you may have family who'd really want to be with you for as long as they can.  You may want to stick around to keep them happy and put yourself through more pain and suffering.  If you're alone it'd be an easier decision.  It is definately not an easy decision.

Everything is sacred.

vildemose

Ari: Yes, that is what's

Ari: Yes, that is what's going to happen because of this study. Brain stimulation even directly might be beneficial.

Thanks God, Kevorkian could not make it...

I always suspected some kind of activity in RPII joon's brain. It's somehow ironic, we have to receive the news by the same news agency who helped a great deal in delivery of the vegetating(?) blow in the first place.

The Pahlavis, all mullahs, and all public figures associated with the Green Movement  must disclose the source and the amount of their wealth/income.

Monda & Anonymouse

I understand what you're saying and I appreciate the study itself and the advances it will lead to in time, but nonetheless, at this stage it really does nothing to help a comotose patient, young or old, but what it can potentially be used as is one more argument agains the legalization of assisted suicide in the case of comotose patients with a living will or perhaps the point at which doctors snd family have the right to decide to discontinue life support. I know that right now (at least here in LA) one of the questions they ask of the patient oand/or their family when the patient is in a critical stage is 'do you want 'heroic measures' to be taken to the save the life of the patient. This study just throws in more gray in the way of that question being answered and to no avail. So what if my 'thoughts can be communicaed with' by means of god knows what contraption? If I'm not going to wake up and say hello then I'd rather just go!

Anonymouse, I read a bit about the Oregon laws. It's pretty strict and open to residents only. It is legal in Switzerland (since 1940) with much more sensible rules (in my opinion anyway). I'm going if push ever comes to shove. I still can not believe that Britain prosecutes patients (and in some cases their family if they had knowledge of it) even for going overseas to seek assisted suicide! Retards.

Monda a question

What activities come to your mind for a clinical program of sensory and social stimulation?

So Monda jaan r u saying having a choice for euthansia is good?

Or bad?  I approved what Dr Kevorkian did and think it should be legal to do so in similar cases.  

Everything is sacred.

Yes Anonymouse jan

but again the question of euthanasia extends to all ages, all conditions... hence the importance of this report.

Monda jaan I consider it a matter of choice w/ old age

Or with painful terminal illnesses like cancer.  If you ever had a loved one go through painful old age and bed ridden for years, or painful diseases where you wish peaceful death, I'd like to have that choice.  Life w/out sex, marriage or marijuana is the least on their mind. 

Everything is sacred.

Anonymouse jan, deh it's Not!

Humans can Live without sex, marriage or marijuana, and live a healthy life at that (well relatively-speaking :o) But without Mind, we cannot. Read my comment to Holly if you like.

Holly jan: about euthanasia

The importance of this research is in extending the hope for children, young adults too -- All people in comatose states to survive. There are valid questions on both sides of Euthanasia, with many shades of gray. However, this piece of news relates to the fabulous progress in neuroscience, which can impact any of us anywhere in he world at any time/age. 

It's kinda legal like same sex marriage or marijuana I dont know

Everything is sacred.

Anonymouse

The map says it is legal in Oregon and Washington! Is that right? I had no idea. And why isn't Switzerland on there?

Places in the world where Euthanasia is legal

//www.euthanasia.com/euthanasiamap.html

This is worse than wanting to die because of painful terminal diseases or being really old and in constant pain and bed ridden.  If your mind is working at least you can get yourself to Netherlands and get out, but if your mind is only communicating on and off it's hard to prepare for a trip.

Everything is sacred.

:) That we have known for a long time

Many of them also post articles and comments on this site.

That sucks

Now all the crazies are going to come out and use this against the right to die (take off life support etc). I don't care if some silly scientist 'can communicate with my thoughts'. If I can't do it myself then I want OUT.