Brave new world
So far, the patient remains unable to fully consent because he can't understand the issues involved, but he can now indicate 'yes' and 'no' at a basic level. 'After a mechanical intervention, he has rejoined the human community,' says Joseph Fins.
His vast improvement also gives rise to more speculative questions. 'It might not be possible to restore all the functions of the brain, for example,' explains Joseph. 'A patient's family could face a choice between what aspects of the mind, such as emotion or memory, they would like to see restored.'
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| Patients' families might face a difficult decision in the future. |
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