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Related Experiment Videos

Is coma morally equivalent to anencephalia?

Anthony Serafini

    Ethics & Behavior
    |January 1, 1993
    PubMed
    Summary

    Equating coma with anencephalia is a mistake. Anencephalic infants lack mental life, suggesting fewer moral objections to using them as organ donors.

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    Gillett on consciousness and the comatose.

    Bioethicsยท1992
    See all related articles

    Area of Science:

    • Medical Ethics
    • Neuroscience
    • Philosophy of Mind

    Background:

    • The common equation of coma with anencephalia is prevalent but conceptually flawed.
    • Understanding consciousness and mental states is crucial for ethical considerations in medicine.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To differentiate between coma and anencephalia based on mental state predicates.
    • To clarify the ethical implications for concepts like brain death.
    • To re-evaluate the moral considerations surrounding organ donation from anencephalic infants.

    Main Methods:

    • Philosophical analysis of mental-state predicates.
    • Conceptual distinction between different states of consciousness.
    • Ethical reasoning applied to medical scenarios.

    Main Results:

    • Coma and anencephalia are distinct neurological conditions, with differing applicability of mental-state predicates.
    • The concept of brain death is shown to be conceptually confused.
    • Anencephalic infants lack the capacity for mental life, altering ethical considerations.

    Conclusions:

    • Anencephalia should not be equated with coma due to fundamental differences in mental capacity.
    • The ethical framework for brain death requires revision.
    • There are diminished moral objections to using anencephalic infants as organ donors due to their lack of mental life.
    Keywords:
    Analytical ApproachDeath and EuthanasiaHealth Care and Public Health

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