The Impact of Contemporary Neurotechnology on Diagnosing and Treating Patients with Disorders of Consciousness - A Review

Disorders of consciousness, especially Vegetative State, are assessed from a theoretical (historical and ethical) and empirical (neuroscientific) points of view, through a review of the most relevant recent literature. Both the potentiality of neuroscientific investigation and the limitations of its clinical (diagnostic and prognos- tic) application are underlined, showing the urgency of a collaboration between science, law and ethics in order to define the most appropriate nosography and to ensure the best therapy to patients with disorders of con- sciousness.