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Comment by robg | Hacker News Reader

Hard to fake a PET scan.

The article makes no claims as to the brain activity of the man. He is debunking that this man is able to communicate beyond simple yes and no. The only "talking" this man has done has been through FC, a practice clearly shown to be bunk.

The article on msnbc references both the PET scan and the facilitated communication.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34109227/ns/health-more_health_n...

Not sure why Randi got so upset (or which report set him off). Even if the typing is a fraud, the injury and the realization that he was locked-in don't seem to be.

The foundation have been out to debunk this 'facilitated communication' for a while. This is a high profile case that mentions it, hence a good opportunity for people to learn what a hurtful lie this type of thing is.

I don't think it's hurtful in this case. The guy is much more conscious than the family ever thought. The PET scan verifies it. If they also believe he's talking, well after 20-something years I don't think that's the worst thing in the world. But sure, FC on someone who's essentially brain dead is a different horrid beast.

Randi does good work. In the case though I think he jumped in too quickly.

The FC is a different issue to the scan and consciousness. No one has suggested he is conscious because of the FC, the article implies that that came after the scans.

Essentially the FC is evil because its pretending to be communication from a loved one and it isn't. He could have some actual capacity for communication and its being ignored because of the FC.

Imagine if he does have the capacity to understand whats happening? Finally they notice he's conscious and then they proceed to ignore him while some bitch makes up pretty stories to tell his family and then writes a book.

People are being accused of raping their children (source: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/programs/transcripts...) based on facilitated communication, while these same children can't tell you what a key is if the facilitator didn't see it. When they design easy, simple tests, these people can't pass them. The fact that people continue to insist it works is stupefying, and understandably upsetting.

How is it better that a locked-in person is taken advantage of?

Not hard to fake typing for an unconscious person. Check out the video.

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