1:18:01
And the cost of care for the chronic
patient has become prohibitive.
1:18:05
This is particularly the case
with the long-term comatose patient.
1:18:10
The Jefferson lnstitute is a government-
sponsored experimental facility...
1:18:14
...designed to provide quality
life support to the comatose patient.
1:18:19
l wish to emphasize...
1:18:20
...no moral or ethical position
is being taken here.
1:18:24
We do not participate in the debate
over whether these patients...
1:18:28
...are alive or dead...
1:18:30
...or whether their care should
be continued or terminated.
1:18:33
Society will decide if there will
be more of these facilities or not.
1:18:38
ln the meantime, we merely provide
care as inexpensively as possible.
1:18:43
Now, if you will
please come this way....
1:18:46
This is our visiting room...
1:18:48
...where relatives can see patients
who are stored here.
1:18:51
You see, it all looks quite normal.
1:18:53
We've found it is inadvisable...
1:18:55
...for relatives to know the actual
circumstances of patient care.
1:19:00
lt's too much of a shock.
So we bring the patient here.
1:19:03
After the visit, we return them
to the main care facility.
1:19:06
lf you will put on your glasses,
we'll go there now.
1:19:10
This is our main care facility.
1:19:13
Temperature here is
94.7 degrees Fahrenheit...
1:19:16
...humidity 82 percent.
1:19:18
This stability reduces
patient heat loss...
1:19:21
...and caloric requirements.
1:19:24
There's a low-level ultraviolet
bacteriostatic flux...
1:19:28
...and to prevent bedsores...
1:19:30
...patients are suspended
by wires through long bones.
1:19:33
-How do you get to them up there?
-There's no need for contact.
1:19:37
Every one of our patients is
individually monitored by the computer.
1:19:41
lndwelling telemetry records weight,
fluid balance...
1:19:45
...blood pressure, blood gases,
temperature, metabolic balance.
1:19:49
Our computer makes an immediate
adjustment for any change in condition.
1:19:53
For example...
1:19:55
...we simulate hypotension by direct
compression of the telemetry unit.