When it comes to human beings, it is all the more difficult to define
the living state. We observe patients lying in coma in hospitals virtually
supported by machines which replace heart and lungs. The patient is
otherwise brain-dead. The patient has no self-consciousness. Are such
patients who never come back to normal life, living or non-living?
Answers
Answer:
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Answer:
When it comes to human beings, it is very difficult to define the living state for someone in a coma. A person may lie In a coma for several years. By technical definition. the person Is alive because he is not brain-dead. However, most of his vital organs have stopped functioning. Such a person is kept alive with the life support system. A heart and lung machine work continuously to perform the function of oxygenation and circulation. A dialysis unit may be in place to perform the function of the kidneys. The person gets nutrition through intravenous fluids.
Since the person is in a coma so he is not exhibiting consciousness to his environment. In other words, he is not able to respond to stimuli; which Is one of the defining criteria for life.
Since the person is being kept alive because of a life support system, metabolic activities are going on. Hence, the person cannot be considered as dead.
But we should not forget that once he is put off the life support system: he will become brain-dead immediately and will be dead by technical definition.
So, this is a difficult question whether a person in a comma is dead or alive. They can be considered alive if external life support is given and dead if they were not given.