Question

Are patients lying in coma living or nonliving?

Answer 1

Part 1: Essential characters of living beings
Those having proper cellular structure, metabolism, exhibiting growth, development, reproduction, responsiveness and other characteristics of life are designated as living beings. Consciousness is one of the basic defining features of life forms.

Part 2: Definition of consciousness
Consciousness is defined as the awareness of the surroundings and response to external stimuli. All living organisms from primitive prokaryotes to eukaryotes and advanced life forms are able to sense and respond to environmental factors. Thus, consciousness is said to be the defining property of living organisms. Part 3: Coma patients
The patients lying in a coma are physically living but otherwise unconscious. He/ she is not conscious of his/ her surroundings and incapable of responding to external environmental stimuli. The vital functions of the body are supported by life-supporting machines.

Part 4: Conclusion
Hence, we can conclude that the patients lying in coma satisfy some living criterias. However, they have non-living features in behavioural and social aspects.