Persistently Vegetative Old Media
Last night, NBC Nightly News presented a largely hopeful report on unexpected brain activity in severely brain damaged people. But then the report by Robert Bazell goes on to spread the by-now standard misinformation (or disinformation) on the case of Terri Schiavo.

By contrast, Terry Schiavo — the focus of an intense court battle over life support in Florida — is in what doctors call a "persistent vegetative state," less responsive with almost no chance of recovery.

This statement treats as fact the claim contested by Terri's family and doctors that she is in a so-called 'persistent vegetative state' (in keeping with the Old Media's script of this as a 'right to die' case). In reality, the promising development reported by NBC may apply very directly to Terri's case.