Persistent Vegetative State
People are precious.
The sight of a person in
the vegetative state is harrowing to their friends
and family.
It also provokes
intense debate and raises profound questions.
If someone you love is
injured to the point of a persistent vegetative state, we
understand the devastating effect that this can have on family
members during an extremely traumatic and emotional time.
We are dedicated to
asserting the rights of people suffering from these terrible
injuries.
We will help you to get
the facts straight and understand the reality of the situation.
Please read about our:
Persistent Vegetative
State (PVS) is caused as a result of severe injury to the part of
the brain.
A person in a vegetative
state may seem to be awake yet unable to feel mental distress or
physical pain. It is common after someone has been in a coma.
While some describe those in a persistent
vegetative state as "brain dead," in fact, the lower brain stem in
PVS patients is still healthy and fully functioning.
As a result, patients in persistent vegetative
states can:
- blink and otherwise move their eyes
- breathe on their own
- cry or laugh, though not as an emotional response to external
events
- enjoy normal circulation
- experience regular sleep-wake cycles
- move their limbs, though purely as reflex (PVS patients can't
hold their limbs nor move them on command)
- open their eyes
- smile
- track objects with their eyes
There is no treatment
available that can reverse the effects of vegetative state, but
some people do make a recovery. Although some do regain
consciousness they may remain permanently brain damaged.
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Continued PVS
A person who has been in
a vegetative state for more than one month is said to be in a
persistent vegetative state. Then if this continues for longer than
a year they are considered to be in a permanent vegetative
state.
The longer a patient is
in a vegetative state the less likely there is any chance of
recovery. After approximately a year is the stage at which doctors
consider withdrawing treatment.
In many cases the
decision to withdraw treatment from a patient in PVS may
understandably be opposed by the patient’s family
If someone that you love
is suffering from PVS then it is clearly an emotionally harrowing
time for you and your family. The heartache and pain that you are
feeling means that it is exceptionally difficult to make the right
decisions for your loved one.
The specialist team of
Clinical Negligence lawyers at Hugh James understands the
conflicting pressures and concerns that are felt by families of PVS
sufferers.
We have considerable
experience in assisting people to navigate through the legal and
medical jargon to help them do the right thing for their loved
ones.
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How Hugh James can help
We know that many people
are unaware of the rights that are available to them at this
time.
We can guide and assist you by:
- Listening to your concerns
- Helping you to understand medical and legal advice
- Advising you of the patient’s rights
- Advising you of your rights
- Advising you on available courses of action
We treat every client with sensitivity and
care, whilst aiming at the same time to deliver results.
If you, or a member of your family, need help
preventing life saving treatment being withdrawn from a loved one,
or believe PVS has been brought on by the negligence of someone
else, please contact one of our expert solicitors on 029 2039
1132.
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Hugh James negligence experience
Over the years the
clinical negligence experts at Hugh James have successfully
recovered damages for many patients and have become experts in this
field of medical negligence.
We have access to the
best specialist medical experts to enable us to obtain evidence of
past and possible future needs to ensure that you are adequately
compensated for the disability you suffer.
We treat every client
with sensitivity and care, whilst aiming at the same time to
deliver results including the highest financial settlement
possible.
We are able to deal
assist you on a No Win No Fee basis.
If you or a member of
your family has suffered as a result of a medical negligence,
contact our friendly and approachable team today.
If after talking to us
you decide not to take matters further you are under no obligation
to do so and you will not be charged for our initial advice
session.
We are dedicated to your
best interests and can advise you on how to proceed.
If you believe that you
have a claim in relation to clinical negligence, then please
contact us now.
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Contact
Stephen Webber
Partner
Head of Clinical Negligence
E stephen.webber@hughjames.com
T 029 2039 1132
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