A vegetative state, a condition in which someone is awake but is unaware, can result from medical malpractice in several ways.
A vegetative state occurs when a person is awake but does not show any signs of awareness. In contrast, a coma is when a person is both unconscious and unaware. A person in a vegetative state gives no coherent response to anything going on around them or any changes in their environment. They may or may not react instinctively to certain stimuli, such as withdrawing their hand or arm in response to having an IV inserted.
Total paralysis is sometimes a feature of a vegetative state, but other times it is not. A person who is in a vegetative state but not paralyzed may blink their eyes, moan, grunt, cry, or gnash their teeth. However, they have no conscious awareness of their surroundings, no real cognitive function, and no ability to form rational thoughts.
Reasons a Person Goes Into a Vegetative State
A person may go into a vegetative state for a number of reasons. Most often, the condition results from severe brain damage. This damage may arise due to a traumatic brain injury or a medical event or condition that causes a sustained lack of oxygen to the brain.
A traumatic injury can cause swelling in the brain, leading to damage and lack of function. In a worst-case scenario, this can culminate in a vegetative state. When the brain is deprived of oxygen, cells begin to die off, and when they do, they do not regenerate the way damaged cells do in other parts of the body.
Medical Malpractice Can Lead to a Vegetative State
Some causes of vegetative states are unpredictable and beyond anyone’s control. Others are preventable and result from the negligence of one or more parties — often a health care professional. If medical malpractice caused someone you love to enter a vegetative state, you may have grounds for a malpractice lawsuit.
Living in a Vegetative State
A person in a vegetative state cannot live or function on their own and requires 24-hour skilled care. Not only does the patient need help with all daily living activities (e.g., eating, bathing, dressing), but they also need constant monitoring of their vital signs and other health markers. If an emergency should arise, they have no way to tell anyone or summon help.
Many doctors and researchers believe that the only true type of vegetative state is a permanent one. That is, if a person demonstrates behaviors indicative of a vegetative state but later recovers their awareness and cognitive function, they were not actually in a vegetative state to begin with.
Call 888-526-8947 Today for a Free Medical Malpractice Case Evaluation With a Member of the Newsome | Melton Team
The medical malpractice lawyers at Newsome | Melton want to help you recover damages if your loved one entered a vegetative state because of a health care provider’s negligence. We will go after them and hold them accountable. For a free consultation with a member of our dedicated staff, call 888-526-8947 today.
Vegetative State - Frequently Asked Questions
Mononucleosis is colloquially known as mono. This viral infection can cause symptoms throughout the body including drowsiness, aching muscles, an irritated throat and overall feelings of fatigue. Other clinical findings have included skin rash, diminished appetite, and fever. Most mononucleosis cases usually resolve within a few weeks of diagnosis. However, this illness can sometimes lead
Read More
Eye complications can affect patients of any age. Most people experience a lack of visual clarity as they grow older and a need for reading glasses becomes unavoidable. Others may be forced to wear glasses or contacts from early childhood. Regardless of the timing, clear vision is an important aspect of health. It can affect
Read MoreVegetative State - News Articles
It was September 2013 when Miguel Diaz and his wife, Esther Diaz, sat in the waiting room at one of the health clinics run by Leon Medical Centers in South Florida. Miguel Diaz still had postoperative bandages covering his right eye following his cataract surgery a few days earlier. Diaz was excited, but nervous for
Read More
Iowa Jury Finds Nurse Anesthetist & Medical Group Negligent for Wrongful Death; Family Awarded $10 Million Towards the end of 2014, Richard J. Pellock and his wife, Joann, waited nervously for his bladder test results. Pellock, then 80, had been experiencing pain during urination and the couple, married for 54 years, were hoping to
Read More