Could you leave your child in a coma for 8 years?

[Slate99]

after reading this article :- here

could you let your child/loved one stay in a coma for 8 years in a vegative state. I don't think I could. I think it is an impossibly hard decision but I would ultimately switch the plug off.

A friend of mine was in a coma a few years ago and his parents had to make that decision and decided to turn the machines off. So what would you do and why?

Mods - This isn't a topic about the actual news article, but what people would do in the situation - please don't move it thank you please

[J-c]

Nope but i would give them a chance say a few months then turn it off

[Fittster]

From wiki

Occasionally people come out of coma after long periods of time. After 19 years in a minimally conscious state, Terry Wallis spontaneously began speaking and regained awareness of his surroundings. Similarly, Polish railroad worker Jan Grzebski woke up from a 19-year coma in 2007

[J-c]

Yes but what are the odds on that ??

[Fittster]

J-c said:

Yes but what are the odds on that ??

Probably the same as lottery win and plenty of people are willing to buy a ticket each week.

[Slate99]

Fittster said:

From wiki

Occasionally people come out of coma after long periods of time. After 19 years in a minimally conscious state, Terry Wallis spontaneously began speaking and regained awareness of his surroundings. Similarly, Polish railroad worker Jan Grzebski woke up from a 19-year coma in 2007

that is awesome. In the situation of my friend he wa brain stem dead. I think it ment he could never be able to breathe for himself and if he regained conciouness he would have no personality and be an empty shell. I think keeping him alive wouldn't have been what he wanted. And because his machines were switched off everyone has excellent memories of him (obviously that isn't the reason why it was switched off).

I think it's an incredibly difficult decision that no one should have to face.

[W00DY]

musclecarmad said:

I don't have or want kids so I don't have that fatherly feeling but

why, if they are unconscious wouldn't you give them 40 years to see if they ever come out of a coma rather than switching the machine off??

i'm not saying that's what i'd do, more actually asking why you guys would switch it off.

thanks

Seriously? If 8 years had passed you would wake upto find the world and ost of the people you cared about have moved on and probably suffer from massive health issues. I'd hate to thinl about the cost, time and difficulty i'd put the hospital and my family through. I wouldn't want it to happen to me so i'd probably do it for someone else.

[rhinochopig]

Ooh think of the sleep and the peace and quiet.

[Morningside]

My Nephew was in a coma for just under a year after being knocked off his bike. He is now OK but there is something 'missing', its very hard to say what it is, but you can tell he is not quite right.

I do remember us saying at the time, 'Its not right, he will only be a vegetable when he comes out of it' etc

Edited by Morningside on Wednesday 21st October 17:36

[v15ben]

Friend of mine was in a coma for several weeks after a serious car crash and the docs weren't convinced he'd be much more than a vegetable when/if he came round. His parents had pretty much taken the decision to turn off the machine when the lad came round! He has never been 100% right since but holds down a full time job and normal lifestyle so hardly the vegetable that was expected!

[DamianBlades]

Ive seen some people leave there 1years in the car sleeping whilst they go shopping so I don't think * years will break much of a sweat for some.