An Ethical Approach to Detecting Covert Consciousness

Inclusion Criteria11

• Patients with prior or ongoing participation as subject in a research study using neurotechnologies for diagnosis and prognosis of disorders of consciousness (DoC) at Mass General Brigham
• Patients capable of understanding and answering questions in English
• Patients cble to provide informed consent
• Patients for whom MRI / EEG are administered for clinical detection of consciousness and/or neuroprognostication
• Family member or surrogate caregiver of patients who previously participated or are currently participating in a research study using neurotechnologies for diagnosis and prognosis of DoC at Mass General Brigham.
• Family Members / Surrogates capable of understanding and answering questions in English
• Family Members / Surrogates able to provide informed consent
• Family member or surrogate caregiver of patients for whom MRI / EEG are administered for clinical detection of consciousness and/or neuroprognostication
• Research Investigators involved with research responsibilities in designing or testing neurotechnologies on patients with DoC.
• Clinicians with clinical responsibilities caring for patients in behaviorally unresponsive state, defined as coma, vegetative state (VS), and low-level minimally conscious state (MCS).
• Selected leaders and advisors (Community and Thought Leaders) from brain injury associations and advocacy organizations, and policy-makers involved in decision-making impacting patients with DoC.