Coma.
When you’ve just received confirmation that your loved one is in a coma after a serious Maryland truck crash, it can be hard to concentrate on anything the doctor says beyond that. However, you should know that there are varying degrees of a comatose state and that a coma can be treated.
The doctor may refer to the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) to identify the seriousness of the brain damage that caused your loved one to fall into a coma. This scale scores the patient based on eye movement, and verbal and motor skills as seen below:
Eyes:
1 point — closed eyes
2 points — eyes open in response to pain
3 points — eyes open in response to voice
4 points — eyes open spontaneously
Verbal:
1 point — no sound
2 points — incomprehensible muttering
3 points — inappropriate words
4 points — confused speech
5 points — normal speech
Motor (Physical Reflexes)
1 point — no movement
2 points — straightens in response to pain
3 points — moves abnormally in response to pain
4 points — withdraws in response to pain
5 points — can pinpoint where pain is
6 points — moves in response to commands
A patient who has a combined score of eight or less is considered to be in a comatose state. That does not necessarily mean that your family member is void of any response. Indeed, a brain scan may show significant activity, a good sign that your loved one will recover.
The road to recovery may be long, expensive, and painful, but you don’t have to face it alone. To see how a Maryland truck accident lawyer can help you get compensation from the responsible party for your loved one’s medical costs and pain and suffering, contact Nickelsporn & Lundin at 800-875-9700.