Abstract
Care of the unconscious patient highlights many ethical dilemmas that face modern society. Most unconscious patients either die or recover mental function within a few days, and this rapid resolution avoids appreciable ethical problems. Many, however, linger for months or years in the vegetative state (Jennett and Plum, 1975; Levy et al., 1978), in which the eyes usually open but the patient remains unaware of his environment; this vegetative state, together with prolonged coma and other related conditions, has recently (President’s Commission, 1983) been designated permanent unconsciousness. Still other patients regain consciousness, but with only the rudiments of psychological awareness. All these patients pose particularly troublesome ethical issues: the problem, stated simply, is whether or not to limit lifesustaining treatment for a patient who cannot participate in the decision.
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Levy, D.E. (1983). Ethical Considerations in the Care of Unconscious Patients. In: Pfaff, D.W. (eds) Ethical Questions in Brain and Behavior. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5590-1_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-5590-1_5
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