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Table 1 Health scenarios presented to subjects via telephone interview

From: Intervention thresholds: a conceptual frame for advance care planning choices

Scenario description

Scenario 1:

You are in a coma with a small likelihood of recovering fully, a slightly larger likelihood of surviving with permanent brain damage, and much larger likelihood of dying.

Scenario 2:

You are in a coma/persistent vegetative state, with no hope of regaining awareness and higher mental functions no matter what is done.

Scenario 3:

You have brain damage or disease which cannot be reversed and makes you unable to recognize people or to speak understandably, and a terminal illness which will likely be the cause of your death.

Scenario 4:

You have brain damage or disease which cannot be reversed and makes you unable to recognize people or to speak understandably, without any other condition that is likely to cause your death, and you could live in your current condition for a long time.

  1. Scenarios were derived and validated for an Advance Care Planning Document [19].