Persistent vegetative state still difficult to diagnose

The term "persistent vegetative state" refers to patients who do show some signs of awareness and is not the same as "brain dead". Brain death is defined as the irreversible loss of all brain function. PVS is difficult to diagnose with up to 40% of cases misdiagnosed according to some studies. Blindness, paralysis or other physical disabilities may prevent the patient from giving some sign that they are aware. More work is continuing to be done on severely brain injured patients but at the moment there are still many unknowns.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by Florida Baptist Witness

Related Disease Topics:

• Persistent vegetative state
• PVS
• Brain dead
• Brain death
• Physical disability (type of Disability)
• Blindness
• Paralysis
• Brain injury

Related Symptom Topics:

• Loss of brain function
• Lack of awareness of self
• Lack of awareness of environment

Article Source Details

About: Persistent vegetative state still difficult to diagnose

Date: 13 January 2005

Source: Florida Baptist Witness

Author: Cindy Province

URL: http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/3695.article

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Misdiagnosis (type of Medical misadventure)
• Misdiagnosis and persistent vegetative state
• Misdiagnosis and PVS
• Misdiagnosis and brain dead
• Misdiagnosis and brain death
• Misdiagnosis and physical disability
• Misdiagnosis and blindness
• Misdiagnosis and paralysis
• Misdiagnosis and brain injury
• Misdiagnosis and loss of brain function
• Misdiagnosis and lack of awareness of self
• Misdiagnosis and lack of awareness of environment
• Diagnosis
• Diagnosis and persistent vegetative state
• Diagnosis and PVS
• Diagnosis and brain dead
• Diagnosis and brain death
• Diagnosis and physical disability
• Diagnosis and blindness
• Diagnosis and paralysis
• Diagnosis and brain injury
• Diagnosis and loss of brain function
• Diagnosis and lack of awareness of self
• Diagnosis and lack of awareness of environment

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