The New York Times Narrated

Vegetative Patients May Be More Aware Than We Knew

Episode Summary

New research is upending what we thought about the consciousness of patients, leaving families with agonizing choices.

Episode Notes

To read the full story, please visit: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/09/magazine/vegetative-states-conscious-aware.html?searchResultPosition=1

By Katie Engelhart

Read by Kirsten Potter

Narration produced by Tanya Pérez

Engineered by Jeremy McLennan

Photograph by Alec Soth/Magnum for the New York Times