Donald Herbert ‘Minimally Conscious’ Unlike Terri Schiavo
Schiavo and HerbertThere has
been a surge of interest in the US over Donald Herbert’s recovery that comes on
the back of the legal battle over Terri Schiavo, who was in a persistent
vegetative state. Her feeding tube was eventually removed and 17 days later she
died.
Whether Herbert’s recovery
sheds any light on the Schiavo decision depends on how their medical conditions
compare. The US non-commercial radio station, NPR, has a short interview with
neurologist Dr. James Bernat, a professor at Dartmouth Medical School. He makes
clear that, while few medical details have so far been released, it seems their
conditions were quite different.
While Terry Schiavo was in a
persistent vegetative state, Donald Herbert was ‘minimally conscious’. This
means he had some awareness of his surroundings, compared to Terry Schiavo who
had none whatsoever.
About
the author
Psychologist, Jeremy Dean, PhD
is the founder and author of PsyBlog. He holds a doctorate in psychology from
University College London and two other advanced degrees in psychology.
He has been writing about
scientific research on PsyBlog since 2004. He is also the author of the book
“Making Habits, Breaking Habits” (Da Capo, 2003) and several ebooks.
Dr Burnett gives some of the
credit for the recovery to the medications Herbert has been given, but warns
that his gains may not be sustained or permanent. Brain damaged people in
minimally conscious states are extremely sensitive to changes in metabolic
conditions and can easily relapse.
SOURCE:
PSYBLOG
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