Digital Media Center
Bryant-Denny Stadium, Gate 4
Box 870370
920 Paul Bryant Drive
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0370
205-348-6644

© 2026 Alabama Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Thank you for listening! Want to support this station? Make a donation by clicking here!

Assessing Awareness

As Terri Schiavo remains in hospice care and without a feeding tube, new questions are being raised about her level of awareness. How is a "persistent vegetative state" different from a "minimally conscious state," and how do neurologists diagnose the difference?

Guests:

James Bernat, professor of neurology, Dartmouth Medical School

Timothy E. Quill, professor of medicine, psychiatry and medical humanities. Director, Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics, University of Rochester Medical Center

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

News from Alabama Public Radio is a public service in association with the University of Alabama. We depend on your help to keep our programming on the air and online. Please consider supporting the news you rely on with a donation today. Every contribution, no matter the size, propels our vital coverage. Thank you.