Following the results of research involving a new brain scanning method that can detect signs of awareness in patients previously diagnosed as being in a persistent vegetative state (PVS), a spokesperson for Headway - the brain injury association said: "We cautiously welcome the findings of this research, however it is important to note that the results are based on a small sample of patients and do not imply that everyone diagnosed with PVS is consciously aware.
"Everyone at Headway appreciates what it is like for a family to be waiting at a hospital bedside hoping and praying for the recovery of a loved one. People in coma and PVS can go on to make good recoveries, but it is important family members are not given false hope. While this study offers valuable insight into PVS and levels of consciousness, a great deal more work is needed to ensure the most accurate diagnoses possible are delivered, leading in turn to appropriate treatment being provided and family members being informed of potential outcomes."
Read the full article in the New England Journal of Medicine
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