Oh? you know which ones had normal brain scans? That’s one over the doctors quoted in the article then.

RBG

You have seldom appreciated the science before, why should I expect you to change now?

Please give us some examples of people routinely put down. I’m not asking for those with normal brain scans, although you might include them, just “put down”.

RBG

#21 And sometimes, some people hide denial with perpetual conFusion.

It’s really fun to see you rant about other’s faults when you represent the very thing you rant about.

#22 You did good differentiating the states, but you failed on the causes, since what causes one thing can cause the other.

As you probably know, or not, speaking several languages is not uncommon for Europeans. Most speak their native language and learn English, German, French, Italian, and even Russian in school.

As for Houben’s case, other than the care giver, is there any evidence he is not still in a vegetative state? Something that is testable. Something more concrete than watching a video of the caregiver guiding his hand?

The problem is, without stimulation a brain loses it cognitive functions and memory. It is highly doubtful anyone could communicate after not communicating for 23 years in clear language, with proper conjugation, spelling, and grammar.

But hey, don’t let reasoning, science, and rational logic get in your way of embracing a “miracle”.

“Today, he is still capable of communicating in these languages,” he added. He intends to write a book about his extraordinary story.”
-Agence France-Presse

Damn, those facilitated communications caregivers must be good.

“Houben’s case is by no means unique.”
-Agence France-Presse.

Don’t you just know that the folks who actively supported “euthenizing” all the Houbens bitched the most about executions.

RBG

There is a difference between a vegetative state and coma. In a vegetative state the brain is basically dead and will generally atrophy (shrink). Most functions, ie breathing, heart beating, etc, are done autonomically (reflex).

In comas the brain is full and functioning although it is damaged. Some coma patients can hear and relate the conversations although they can not react to physical stimuli.

There will always be exceptions, but a vegetative state is usually caused by a lack of oxygen or an overdose of a stimulant such as potassium killing large portions of the brain. A coma is usually caused by a physical injury.

In this case, while there may have been an injury, during the rescue or treatment, his brain could have been deprived of oxygen.

The family so wants him to not be brain damaged they will imagine he is cognizant when in actual fact he is merely brain dead and it is the facilitator moving his hand.

If one remembers during the Terry Schiavo episode, TV reports were all playing the same six seconds of Schiavo moving her head out of a total of 73 minutes of recording. This was looped over and over again and again. Then again. Those who wanted Schiavo to be cognizant claimed those six seconds were actual recognition when in fact they were totally random.

#6 Care to expand on that?

#18 Hard to tell, since demagogues use the same voting technique in congress. I can swear I can see a hand pushing up both demagogues & repugs hand up or keeping them now whenever the “yeay or nay” question comes up

or is it he sound like the opposite of the current state of the republicans???