Empiricism and rights justify the allocation of health care resources to persons with disorders of consciousness

Model System:

TBI

Reference Type:

Journal article

Accession No.:

J89305

Journal:

AJOB Neuroscience

Year, Volume, Issue, Page(s):

2021 , 12, 2-3, 169-171

Publication Website:

Abstract:

Article addresses the longstanding debate around allocation of resources to people with disorders of consciousness (DoC) caused by acquired brain injury. The authors endorse the prospective benefit proposal and provide corroborative empirical evidence in support of this approach by comparing data on early withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment with recent findings from long-term natural history studies of persons with prolonged DoC. They also supplement the prospective benefit framework by applying a complementary normative and legal-rights-based appeal that offers this vulnerable population enhanced protection against nihilism, marginalization, and neglect.

Author(s):