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Alive inside
Author(s) -
Peterson Andrew,
Owen Adrian M.,
Karlawish Jason
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
bioethics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.494
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1467-8519
pISSN - 0269-9702
DOI - 10.1111/bioe.12678
Subject(s) - guideline , persistent vegetative state , neuroimaging , consciousness , neuroethics , clinical practice , psychology , ethical issues , medicine , consciousness disorders , psychiatry , engineering ethics , minimally conscious state , family medicine , neuroscience , pathology , engineering
This article provides an ethical analysis of the U.S. practice guideline update on disorders of consciousness. Our analysis focuses on the guideline’s recommendations regarding the use of investigational neuroimaging methods to assess brain‐injured patients. Complex and multifaceted ethical issues have emerged because these methods alter the clinical understanding of consciousness. We address issues of false hope, patient suffering, and cost. We argue that, in spite of these concerns, there is significant benefit to using neuroimaging to assess brain‐injured patients in most cases.