[Ethical aspects of dealing with coma patients].

The number of patients who survive severe brain injury increased due to progress in neurosurgery and intensive care. To establish a proper prognosis on the coma stage and the possible potential of remission is difficult in many cases. The treatment of patients in chronic coma leads to economic and ethical problems. Progress in functional radiology may help to obtain a proper prognosis in future. While numerous issues deal with ethical aspects in case of brain death only few do so with treatment decisions in chronic coma patients.