Coma Man's Words May Not Be His

Experts doubt Houben's 'facilitated communication'

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 25, 2009 2:28 AM CST

(Newser) – Ron Houben's poignant words after being locked for 23 years inside his paralyzed body may not be his own, according to some skeptical experts. They believe the Belgian, misdiagnosed as being in a vegetative state, is definitely sentient. But they note that an "interview"... Read full story »

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

You need to Log in to Newser to comment. Don't have an account yet? Sign up now!

12 comments

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

What's Popular Now on Facebook

'Serpent Pastor' Dies of Snake Bite

Oosp: Romney's New App Misspells 'America'

Wired (Source Grid »)

Science • Technology • World

Belgium • vegetative state • Rom Houben • facilitated communication

More Newser Stories

Coma Man's 'Communication' Proved False

Neurologist says Rom Houben is conscious, but can't communicate

(NEWSER) - The story of a Belgian man who began communicating after more than 20 years in a coma made headlines around the world, but the skeptics have now been proven right. Rom Houben's neurologist says further tests have found that the facilitated communication method, in which a therapist guided Houben's fingers over a keyboard, wasn't working and that the therapist must have been unwittingly guiding the patient's hand. More»

Coma Doc Checking Dozens of New Cases

Belgian searches for more victims of 'locked-in' syndrome

(NEWSER) - The Belgian neurologist who discovered that a patient thought to have been in a coma was actually conscious for 23 years has been checking dozens of other patients for signs of awareness. And he has discovered consciousness in some of the 50 patients he checks annually with his state-of-the-art equipment, Dr. Steven Laureys tells the Guardian. More»

Coma Man Was Conscious for 23 Years

'I was witness to my own suffering,' says Belgian

(NEWSER) - A man believed to be in a coma for 23 years following a car accident was actually conscious but completely paralyzed. "I dreamed myself away," said Belgian Rom Houben, now 49. A doctor finally made the correct diagnosis and discovered Houben's brain was completely normal and functioning. With therapy, Houben is now able to communicate tapping out messages on a computer screen. More»

DSK Now Target of Gang-Rape Investigation

Centers on alleged 2010 incident in Washington, DC

(NEWSER) - More hot water for Dominique Strauss-Kahn, and once again it's US-flavored: A French prosecutor today opened a preliminary investigation into an alleged gang rape in Washington, DC, CNN reports. In the course of France's probe into Strauss-Kahn's alleged participation in a prostitution ring, the gang-rape allegations surfaced; a Belgian prostitute reportedly told police that DSK and three friends made her perform non-consensual sex acts in a DC hotel in December 2010. More»

Swiss Tunnel Bus Crash Kills 22 Kids, 6 Adults

Belgium in mourning after ski holiday bus crash

(AP) - A bus carrying students returning from a ski holiday crashed into a wall in a Swiss tunnel last night, killing 22 Belgian 12-year-olds and six adults. Another 24 students were hospitalized with injuries after the crash near the Alpine city of Sierre. The cause of the crash has not been determined. "The bus hit the barrier stones on the right side of the road. It then hit the tunnel wall front-on in an emergency stop space," police said in a statement. "Because of the strong impact the bus was badly damaged, and several passengers were trapped in the wreckage." More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Coma Man's Words May Not Be His

Experts doubt Houben's 'facilitated communication'

Belgium • vegetative state • Rom Houben • facilitated communication

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Coma Man's 'Communication' Proved False

Neurologist says Rom Houben is conscious, but can't communicate

Coma Doc Checking Dozens of New Cases

Belgian searches for more victims of 'locked-in' syndrome

Coma Man Was Conscious for 23 Years

'I was witness to my own suffering,' says Belgian

DSK Now Target of Gang-Rape Investigation

Centers on alleged 2010 incident in Washington, DC

Swiss Tunnel Bus Crash Kills 22 Kids, 6 Adults

Belgium in mourning after ski holiday bus crash

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?