Man in Vegetative State Uses MRI to Communicate

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/MRI-NEJM-Vegetative-State-Conscious,news-5742.html

The most important subject I think this article brings up is our previous treatment of people we thought braindead. The man is obviously aware of his environment and is responding to it. This means people that family members and doctors "pulled the plug" on may well have been aware of the situation and been unable to tell anyone if they didn't want to die.

That is terrifying to me.

 

Thats actually amazing. I wonder if there was any way to bring him out of that state. I remember hearing about 1 guy who was in a coma for 7 years then one day he suddenly woke up.
On the other hand if thats all he could ever do, well, maybe he doesn't want to be around anymore.