HL Deb 28 June 2004 vol 663 c7WA
Lord Patten

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the use within the National Health Service of the adjective "vegetative" to describe a long-term clinical state from which some patients recover in whole or in part is discriminatory towards those patients. [HL3270]

Lord Warner:

The term permanent vegetative state (PVS) is a well established medical diagnostic term with clear criteria and definitions set out in guidance from the Royal College of Physicians and internationally recognised bodies. When PVS was first described, there was some uncertainty on how to diagnose the condition. There were some cases of people who it was thought could be in PVS and who did recover. Following analysis of people who have and who have not recovered, diagnosis of PVS is more certain.