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Researching patients in the vegetative state: Difficulties of studying this patient group

School of Community Health & Social Studies Anglia Polytechnic University, Cambridge, l.gelling{at}apu.ac.uk

It is now generally accepted that all patient groups should benefit from the potential advances in knowledge and understanding that result from clinical research. Despite this principle, patients in the vegetative state remain a group that has been chronically under-researched by neuroscientists because complex ethical questions and logistical dilemmas are raised by such research.

The vegetative state is one of the best known but least understood of neurological conditions. It affects a small but significant number of people who make a poor recovery after sustaining a brain injury and has been brought to public attention through high profile cases in the UK and the USA. This paper defines the vegetative state and explores four important issues that should be considered when planning clinical research in this field. It is demonstrated that not only is it possible to undertake such research but also that there needs to be more of it so that greater numbers of patients and their families will benefit.

Key Words: Vegetative state • Persistent vegetative state • Multidisciplinary research • Consent • Assent • Research ethics

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