I'm not saying that he isn't in a conscious state now. I am questioning the communications mode. I think that the re-diagnosis is very good, especially using the new techniquest not available in the mid 80's.
But yes people will spend years fooling themselves in these situations. Look at Shaivo's parents for instance. Until my brother died, my parents were absolutely convinced as well. Wishful thinking is very powerful, it allows the person to ignore or dismiss all sorts of contrary evidence. On Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 11:27 AM, Michael Grant <[email protected]> wrote: > > Understood. However don't you think this would've manifested much much > earlier? It's been like 15 years or something hasn't it? That's a bloody > long time to be fooling oneself with false hope don't you think? Just > asking. > > On Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 11:21 AM, Larry C. Lyons <[email protected]>wrote: > >> >> Hope - that in spite of everything that's happened to the guy, he >> will eventually come out of things OK. >> >> They're not faking anything, I think. In all likelihood its a >> desperate hope that he's there and not some very badly damaged shell. >> So they look and see a random movement as "proof" that he's conscious >> and able to fully communicate. Their expectations put meaningfulness >> into what may entirely be random nerve firings. >> >> One thing I wonder a bit is if beyond everything and he is "normal" >> how normal would be be - imagine trapped in your body, you cannot >> move, or do anything except state at the wall. How long would someone >> stay sane in that situation. >> >> A bit of personal disclosure here. When I was quite young, my eldest >> brother was in a coma which he never came out of. So I think I kind of >> understand what the parents are going through. Its a very forlorn hope >> and I really hope I never have to go through anything similar again. I >> have a living will set up already requesting that if I am in such a >> situation, that any and all support be terminated. This includes >> removing all food and water. >> >> That all said, apparently he may be able to respond to yes /no >> questions by tapping a button with his foot. if so then he can >> interact with the outside world, and you can set up a modified BLISS >> system to help him communicate. >> >> larry >> >> On Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 10:30 AM, Michael Grant <[email protected]> wrote: >> > >> > Ok, fair enough. >> > >> > I'm still interested to know your thoughts on this though: >> > >> >> As far as evidence, well you're right. I would ask you this though: In >> > this >> >> case specifically, after all these years, what would be the family's >> > benefit >> >> to faking it? >> > >> > >> > >> >> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Want to reach the ColdFusion community with something they want? Let them know on the House of Fusion mailing lists Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/message.cfm/messageid:309153 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5
