Making It Count – Tracing Signs of Consciousness and Potentiality in Severe Brain Injury in Denmark
Medical Anthropology January 11, 2024 M. T. Høybye, Lise Marie Andersen, Hanne Bess Boelsbjerg
In Danish intensive care units, clinicians interpret patients' responses to monitoring and sensory assessments as 'signs of consciousness' when those responses seem contextually relevant. Based on anthropological fieldwork, the article traces how the clinical concept of potential shapes the interpretation of these signs, treating consciousness as a vital indicator of what makes a life worth living. The analysis frames the potential for recovery as an emergent biosocial practice, contributing to medical anthropology discussions about moral landscapes at the borders of clinical and experimental care.