Through the sobering story of Maggie Worthen and her mother Nancy this book tells of one familys struggle with severe brain injury and how developments in neuroscience call for a reconsideration of what society owes patients at the edge of consciousness. Drawing upon over fifty in-depth family interviews the history of severe brain injury from Quinlan to Schiavo and his participation in landmark clinical trials such as the first use of deep brain stimulation in the minimally conscious state Joseph J. Fins captures the paradox of medical and societal neglect even as advances in neuroscience suggest new ways to mend the broken brain. Responding to the dire care provided to these marginalized patients after heroically being saved Fins places societys obligations to patients with severe injury within the historical legacy of the civil and disability rights movements offering a stirring synthesis of public policy and physician advocacy.
