Family members of people in coma or the vegetative state live in a world of uncertainty. Can individuals in these conditions see or hear? Do they feel pain? Are their utterances or movements signs that they are trying to communicate? What are their chances of completely or partially recovering?

Reseachers and clinical staff at MossRehab have been working to gain a greater understanding of coma and the vegetative state. In addition, they want to learn more about how to provide treatment to these individuals.

What Are Coma and the Vegetative State? A definition of these terms is provided on this page.

Facts About Coma and the Vegetative State Thousands of Americans currently live in a comatose or vegetative state; most are young people under the age of 25.

Evaluating Those Who Are Minimally Conscious: The Responsiveness Program Traditionally, healthcare professionals and families have had difficulty in determining whether or not patients are in a vegetative state