For 23 years doctors said that Rom Houben was in a vegetative state and not aware of his surroundings. This all changed when he was re-evaluated and clinicians realized he was paralyzed but completely aware of his surroundings and able to hear every word that was spoken to him. He is quoted by the Mail Online:
'I shall never forget the day when they discovered what was truly wrong with me - it was my second birth.Truly remarkable... with therapy he is now able to communicate. If I recall correctly, Terri Schiavo's family struggled to save her life, to obtain new testing for her, and to obtain therapy. In her case euthanasia advocates won and her life was taken following the cessation of food and water. Thankfully Rom Houben did not receive the same treatment.'I want to read, talk with my friends via the computer and enjoy my life now that people know I am not dead.
Unfortunately, this is a case of "Facilitated Communication," in which a "therapist" moves his hand around like he was a human Ouija board. It's sad that a man in a coma (and his family, which wants to believe) would be exploited in this way.
Should we such pessimists? Even if the man is being "exploited" as some of us would like to think, his relatives are still happy. Isn't that enough in our present world where there is very little to ne happy about?
Chris, this whole business of "facilitated communication" has become an unfortunate diversion from the main issue involved here. The point is that a brain scan in 2006 revealed possible consciousness in this person. This is a fact, regardless of whether or not a bogus communication method is being used now.
What this unfortunate man needs now is a reliable communication system that will prove conclusively what the brain scan suggested.