Neurol. praxi. 2010;11(1):20-22

Palliative care in patients in vegetative state

MUDr.David Doležil, Ph.D.
Karlova Univerzita, 3. LF a FN KV v Praze, Neurologická klinika, Praha

The term vegetative state has been first used by Jennett and Plum in their 1972 paper. The vegetative state is defined as a clinical condition

of complete unawareness of the self and the environment accompanied by sleep-wake cycles with either complete or partial preservation

of hypothalamic and brain-stem autonomic functions. Palliative care in the vegetative state includes medical, nursing, rehabilitation,

social, psychological, and spiritual care and all patients are entitled to receive this care. Discontinuation of palliative treatment, including

the discontinuation of fluid and food intake, is a point of controversial discussion from ethical, legal and medical points of view.

Keywords: palliative care, nutrition and hydration, vegetative state, persistent vegetative state, permanent vegetative state

Published: March 1, 2010  Show citation

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Doležil D. Palliative care in patients in vegetative state. Neurol. praxi. 2010;11(1):20-22.
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