Sleeping Beauty or Vegetative State: Making Sense of Unconsciousness
For many of us there is a fascination, and often newsworthiness, about a person being in a state of perpetual sleep then waking sometime in the future. Think about the fairy-tale of ‘Sleeping Beauty’; the princess who sleeps for a hundred years, awakened by a kiss. Of course from a handsome prince. While the romance and mystery appeals to our imaginations, the reality is somewhat different. Quality life for a person living in an unconscious state can be less than optimal. Rather than living in a castle with all needs met, the person is likely to be in a hospital or care facility and may not be living a quality, meaningful life. Research is leading us to understand the state of unconsciousness better. As we gain a better understanding we hope it will improve the quality of life for people who are not able to explain their needs to us. Today a brief introduction. Looking at what it means to be…