Brain damage and the moral significance of consciousness.
The Journal of medicine and philosophy February 1, 2009 Guy Kahane, Julian Savulescu 126 citations
Neuroimaging suggests some vegetative-state patients may be conscious, which might seem to reinforce the moral duty to preserve life. However, the authors question this assumption by clarifying the principle that consciousness is morally significant. They argue that the relevant notion is phenomenal consciousness, and that its presence could actually provide stronger moral reasons not to preserve a patient's life, especially when cognitive function is retained.