persistent vegetative state
Unaware but awake
A persistent vegetative state is a medical condition in which a person shows no signs of awareness or cognitive function despite being technically awake—eyes may open, sleep-wake cycles continue, but there is no response to stimuli or purposeful movement.
The condition results from severe brain damage and may last months or years.
The family faced difficult decisions after doctors confirmed he was in a persistent vegetative state.
Unwakeable unconsciousness
- unresponsiveFailing to react or reply
- brainstemLower neural trunk
- neurologicalOf the nervous system
- brain damageHarm to neural tissue
locked-in syndrome · wakefulness · sleep-wake cycle · anoxia · trauma · stroke · diagnosis · prognosis
Nearing death phase
- right to dieFreedom to end suffering
- withdrawal of careCeasing medical treatment intentionally
- medical ethicsHealthcare moral principles
- patient rightsLegal protections for care recipients
advance directive · living will · quality of life · dignity · autonomy · consent · legal battle · court order
Systems maintaining vital functions
- feeding tubeDevice delivering nutrition internally
- ventilatorMechanical breathing apparatus
- hydrationBodily fluid replenishment
- nursing careHealth support from nurses
long-term care · rehabilitation · sensory stimulation · physical therapy · hospice · caregiver · family · guardianship
Fixed without end
- prolongedMade to last longer
- chronicPersisting over time
- indefiniteNot precisely determined
- lastingContinuing through time
continuous · irreversible · sustained · months · years · long-term · ongoing
State of being unsure
- waitingRemaining in expectation
- indeterminacyLack of fixed outcome
- thresholdPoint of beginning
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
suspension · stasis · in-between · neither here nor there · hope · grief · liminal · unresolved
coma
Unwakeable unconsciousness
- unresponsiveFailing to react or reply
- brainstemLower neural trunk
- neurologicalOf the nervous system
brain damage · locked-in syndrome · wakefulness · sleep-wake cycle · anoxia · trauma · stroke · diagnosis · prognosis · recovery
end-of-life
Nearing death phase
- right to dieFreedom to end suffering
- withdrawal of careCeasing medical treatment intentionally
- medical ethicsHealthcare moral principles
patient rights · advance directive · living will · quality of life · dignity · autonomy · consent · legal battle · court order · futility
life support
Systems maintaining vital functions
- feeding tubeDevice delivering nutrition internally
- ventilatorMechanical breathing apparatus
- hydrationBodily fluid replenishment
nursing care · long-term care · rehabilitation · sensory stimulation · physical therapy · hospice · caregiver · family · guardianship · monitoring
permanent
Fixed without end
- prolongedMade to last longer
- chronicPersisting over time
- indefiniteNot precisely determined
lasting · continuous · irreversible · sustained · months · years · long-term · ongoing
uncertainty
State of being unsure
- waitingRemaining in expectation
- indeterminacyLack of fixed outcome
- thresholdPoint of beginning
ambiguity · suspension · stasis · in-between · neither here nor there · hope · grief · liminal · unresolved
- End-of-Lifeadvance directive, DNR, do not resuscitate, hospice, life support
- Brain InjuriesTBI, concussion, brain trauma, brain damage, traumatic brain injury
- comacoma, induced coma, diabetic coma, drug-induced coma, medically induced coma
persistent vegetative statewakefulness
State of being conscious
sentience · alertness · lucidity · responsiveness · conscious
persistent vegetative statefull recovery
Return to prior health
brain death · healthy · clinical death · thriving · death
persistent, persist, persists, persisted, persisting, persistence, persistency, persistently, vegetative