Abstract

Argues that parapsychology may have a role in life-death treatment decisions for patients who, whether described as comatose or persistent vegetative, have passed into a chronic state of unconsciousness and seem to have lost their cognitive and sapient lives. The author discusses applicable legal principles for refusal of treatment by both competent and incompetent patients, including the use of surrogates, and describes reasons that render some of these decisions suspect. The author also describes 2 steps to be taken by parapsychologists (research of the psi abilities of comatose patients and critical appraisal of data) that might lead to a stronger assurance that decisions by others to terminate treatment for patients are correct.