- Aids and the Condom
- In this issue
- Thirst in Relation to Withdrawal of Hydration - Peter Mccullagh
- Cognition and The Persistent Vegetative State - Lesley Murphy
- Psychological Effects of Abortion - Patricia R. Casey
- Down's Syndrome: Current Research - Jerome Lejeune
- Health of The Young Nation - Chief Medical Officers Meeting with the Faith Communities
- Meeting with The Papal Nuncio
- The Inauguration of The Lejeune Clinic
Resume
Welcome to Holland - Emily Perl Kingsley
Prayers - Hugh Sinclair
Homily - Hugh Sinclair- Bio-ethics Corner - Seymour Spencer
- Old Frog Opines
- Tadpole Observes
- Doctor Ernest Intention Reports
- Letter to the Editor
Dr. Peter McCullagh of the John Curtin School of Medical Research, a Department of The Australian National University in Canberra, Australia, presents an analysis of the literature as to the possibility that PVS patients suffer from persistent thirst if fluids are withdrawn, His conclusion is that they do and is backed by the view that there is a centre controlling thirst in the hypothalamus. As PVS is caused by damage to the cortex leaving the hypothalamus unscathed, his thesis is certain to create a re- assessment of certain judgements adopted by the courts recently, by which permission was given for the withdrawal of nutrition and fluids in these patients.
Further analysis of the PVS situation comes from Lesley Murphy who finds that the standard clinical tests may not be sufficient to detect residual consciousness.
Professor Casey presents the recent developments in her studies of the psychological effects of abortion.
To coincide with the inauguration of the Lejeune clinic we reproduce a paper delivered by the Professor at the Medical Society of London on 3rd. November 1992 which summarises some of the possibilities opened up by his research.