On Wed, 26 Jan 2005 09:34:38 -0700, Dana <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > about a month or two ago? Christmastime? I suppose I could have > misunderstood, but I don't think so.... > > If they are not willing to pay for her care, the issue in my mind is > somewhat different. To be blunt, if we are talking public health > dollars, then the issue of triage perhaps should apply, especially if > the matter is as hopeless as Larry says it is. > > Dana
The situation is completely hopeless. She has been in this state for almost 10 years now. There has been no cases cases where a person has recovered from a persistent vegative state after so long. Even after a year where the person recovers, they are severely disabled. I found one article from the British Medical Journal well worth reading. http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/310/6976/341 According to the above article, very few recover -- The outcome is worse following non-traumatic insults [such as the Shaivo case - lcl]: after three months in a persistent vegetative state 7% recover, generally with severe disability, and there were no cases of recovery after six months in a persistent vegetative state. The few data on children suggest that the outcome at 12 months of a persistent vegetative state resulting from trauma seems to be better than that in adults but that there is little difference from adults after non-traumatic insults. The task force concluded that a persistent vegetative state can be judged to be permanent 12 months after a traumatic injury and three months after a non-traumatic insult in adults and children. Although an occasional verified recovery has been reported after these times, such recovery is virtually always associated with severe disability. -- Terri Shaivo has been in this state for about 10 years . There is virtually no chance of any recovery. There is no higher order brain function, just the lower autonomic system is left. This article is worth reading to give an idea of the case and the eventual outcome. After 3 years in this state over 95% die. The British medical Association has some reccomendations: "The BMA has recommended that "if it is apparent at the end of a twelve month period of insentience due to persistent vegetative state that the patient's condition is irreversible doctors will consider whether it is in the patient's best interest to continue with treatment to prolong life." The findings of the American Multi-Society Task Force challenge these recommendations by suggesting that a persistent vegetative state is almost always permanent at three months if the cause was a non-traumatic cerebral insult. " -- Which is the case with Terri Schaivo. larry ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Purchase Flash MX Pro from House of Fusion, a Macromedia Authorized Affiliate and support the CF community. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=57 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:144528 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
