Valenza umana della cura (care) dei pazienti in SVP e ruolo dei caregivers

Abstract

[Human value of care and caregivers' role in the management of permanent vegetative state (SVP) patients]

As stated by the Royal College of Physicians, «patients who remain in a vegetative or minimally conscious state following profound brain injury present a complex array of clinical and ethical challenges to those who care for them». Patients in clinical condition of Permanent Vegetative State (SVP) are unaware of self and environment, enable of language comprehension or expression; they are able to survive along provided that we are able to ensure primary care, such as eating and hydration.

With regard to this existential landmark, caregiver’s role is not only legally related, as guardian of will of his/her relative but also as “mediator” between the SVP patient and heath care professionals; in fact, the caregiver emphasizes the intentionality of patient behaviors, transforming them into care needing. Moreover, since the disease does not only indicate an impairment of one or more functions of an organ, and then the body, but also covers the mind, then the psyche, the sick body reflects in this way the soul’s suffering and this suffering has an impact on family caregivers.