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The Persistent Vegetative State in Children:Report of the Child Neurology Society Ethics Committee Ann Neurol 32:570-576, Ashwal,S.,et al, 1992 See this aricle in Pubmed Article Abstract Increasing concern about children in a persistent vegetative state(PVS) prompted a survey of members of the Child Neurology Society regarding aspects of the diagnosis and management of this disorder.Major findings of those responding to this survey(26%response rate)were as follows:(1)93% believed that a diagnosis of PVS can be made in children,but only 16% believed that this applied to infants younger than 2 months and 70%in the 2-month to 2-year group;(2)a period of 3 to 6 months was believed to be the minimum observation period required before a diagnosis of PVS could be made;(3)86%believed that the age of the patient would affect the duration of time needed to make the diagnosis of PVS;(4)78%thought a diagnosis of PVS could be made in children with severe congenital brain malformations; (5)75%believed that neurodiagnostic studies would be of value and supportive of the clinical diagnosis of PVS;(6)members'opinions as to the average life expectancy(in years)for the following age groups after the patients were considered vegetative were:newborn to 2 months,4.1;2 months to 2 years,5.5;2 to 7 years,7.3;and more than 7 years,7.4;(7)20%believed that infants and children in a PVS experience pain and suffering;and(8) 75%"never"withhold fluid and nutrition from infants and children in PVS and 28%"always"give medication for pain and suffering.The data suggest that child neurologists believe PVS can be diagnosed in children after 2 years of age,but that in younger children a more cautious approach is indicated.The findings suggest reasonable agreement concerning many of these issues,and it may be possible at this time to develop a position statement on the medical aspects of PVS in children.

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