Abstract
THE VEGETATIVE STATE: MEDICAL FACTS, ETHICAL AND LEGAL DILEMMAS By Bryan Jennett 2002. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Price £29.92. ISBN 0521441587 It has been recognised for many years that, following severe brain injury, the awareness and cognitive responsiveness aspects of consciousness may be severely or totally impaired. Jennett and Plum described this as ‘the persistent vegetative state’ in 1972. Since the first paper, the vegetative state has increasingly been recognised because better techniques of resuscitation and supportive care of acute brain injuries have led to a higher proportion of patients surviving with profound cognitive impairment. Furthermore, better nursing care of dependent patients has meant that some patients may survive for prolonged periods with severe dementia. The implications of the vegetative state to society are potentially immense in both financial …
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