If The Brain-dead Aren't Persons

What is this lady? We've been discussing what makes a person a person in Philosophy. Consciousness is one of the leading contenders. Of course, that makes no sense to me, since all of us are unconscious every day--it's called sleep. Read the news and decide for yourself:

"I'm a lucky lady. I owe it to the grace of God."...: "'I'm a lucky lady. I owe it to the grace of God.'

Brain-dead women wakes from coma.

(Via Catholic and Enjoying It!.)