Problems With Potentiality: The Uncertainties of Prognostication and Meaningful Recovery

摘要

Vukov (2018) provides a cogent argument for looking beyond a person’s actual level of consciousness and considering one’s potential for consciousness as morally salient. He posits that if a person has the potential to become conscious, then he should be offered the same interventions as a person who is already conscious. Vukov (2018) goes on to concede that this notion is not necessarily controversial since most, if not all, medical interventions are offered because of potential benefit. In fact, this potential benefit is the basis for offering lifesustaining treatment to individuals with disorders of consciousness (DoC) in the intensive care setting when decisions are made without full understanding of prognosis.