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The parents of Richard Rudd, the man who told doctors he wanted to live by moving his eyes while trapped in a coma, have revealed the emotional turmoil caused by their son’s choice.
By David Harrison
Published: 7:45AM BST 18 Jul 2010
The doctor leant towards his paralysed and comatose patient and asked a question that was literally a matter of life and death.
“Richard,” he said calmly. “Do you want us to continue with your treatment? If you do, move your eyes to the left. If you don’t, move them to the right.”
After a few seconds of almost unbearable suspense, Richard Rudd’s eyes shifted to the left.
He could hear. He could understand. He could communicate. He didn’t want to die.
Shortly before his motorbike accident Richard had told his parents that he would not want to be kept alive if he was ever left on a life-support machine.
They had complied with his wishes, giving doctors permission to end his treatment. Now Richard had found a way of telling the doctors that he wanted to live after all.
Richard’s mother Christine Walker, 60, admits that she has “mixed feelings” about her son’s “awakening”….Continue Reading
