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Rediff.com  » Sports » Schumacher may remain in 'permanent vegetative state'
This article was first published 10 years ago

Schumacher may remain in 'permanent vegetative state'

January 22, 2014 12:43 IST

Image: Indian sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik works on a sand sculpture of Michael Schumacher to wish him a speedy recovery at Puri
Photographs: Reuters

Formula One legend Michael Schumacher may reportedly be in danger of being left in a permanent vegetative state even as his family holds fast to fading hopes of his recovery.

The seven-time German champion has been in a medically-induced coma since he hit his head on a rock in a ski accident in the last week of December at the French Alpine resort of Meribel.

Schumacher may remain in 'permanent vegetative state'

Image: Corinna Schumacher, Michael's wife, arrives at the hospital in Grenoble, where her husband is hospitalised
Photographs: Charles Platiau/Reuters

According to the Mirror, although Schumacher is currently stable, doctors fear that due to Schumacher's severe brain damage, he may suffer from apallic syndrome, or persistent vegetative state, which happens when a patient with severe brain damage is in a state of partial arousal rather than true awareness.

The report also mentioned that if doctors managed to bring Schumacher out of the coma, he may still be unable to speak, move or feed himself.

Schumacher may remain in 'permanent vegetative state'

Image: Caps, flags and a shirt marking the 45th birthday of seven-time former Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher
Photographs: Ina Fassbender/Reuters

The report further said that induced comas, which give the brain time to heal, usually last two weeks at most but there are examples of patients being under longer, although a neurologist said that every day in a coma means that the chances decline that the situation is improving.

Despite the support, Schumacher's family and friends have not been able to mask their concerns that he is nowhere near making a recovery, the report added.