Showing posts with label coma. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coma. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Interesting observation on that Belgian case

Have a look at this video, particularly from around 12 to 35 seconds:

The facilitator is moving the guy's hand on the keyboard. Doesn't that seem, well, a bit strange? James Randi certainly thinks so. Dr. Nancy Snyderman introduces the segment as follows:
A mother [in Belgium] says her son has emerged from what doctors thought was a vegetative state to say he was fully conscious for 23 years but could not respond because he was paralyzed.
To which Randi responds:
No, that is not what the man said, Dr. Snyderman. That's what an incompetent layperson typed for him!
Looking at the video, Randi definitely seems to have a point. Wishful thinking can be awfully effective, not to mention any ulterior motives some folks might have for promoting the version of the story that the mainstream media is running.

Thanks to Stimpson for tipping me off to this interesting twist on the story.