Vegetative State Study Story aired: Friday, September 08, 2006
A 23-year-old woman brain-damaged in a car crash last year is showing startling signs of awareness for someone in a vegetative state -- perhaps even playing tennis in her mind. And this is reviving memories of Terry Schiavo, who was removed from life support last year and later died.
A study in the most recent issue of the journal Science reveals that the young car crash victim was asked to imagine herself playing tennis or walking through her apartment. An advanced brain scan showed that her brain was reacting the same way as a normal person's does. Researchers say that proves she intentionally decided to involve herself in the study.
Guests:
Arthur Caplan, professor and bioethicist at the University of Pennsylvania
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