A Belgian man who stunned the world last year by apparently communicating after 23 years in a coma cannot in fact do so, researchers say. The doctor who believed that Rom Houben was communicating through a facilitator now says the method does not work. "The story of Rom is about the diagnosis of consciousness, not communication."
By holding Mr Houben's forearm and finger, the therapist was said to feel sufficient pressure to direct her to the correct keys on the keyboard. In a test of this procedure, objects and words were shown to Mr Houben and other patients in the absence of the facilitator who was then called back into the room. The patient was then asked to say what they had seen or heard. BBC News
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