Neurologist Fred Plum

Fred Plum, the 86-year-old neurologist who coined the term "persistent vegetative state" with Bryan Jennett, died on Friday.  His obituary in the New York Times is remarkable.  

In addition to "PVS" Plum also coined the term "locked-in syndrome."  And his research with Jennett led to the "Glasgow Coma Score," which remains the gold standard in determining the depth of a patient’s coma.

Famously involved with both the Karen Quinlan case and the care of Richard Nixon, Dr. Plum was an advocate for the right of terminally ill patients to determine their treatment and when that treatment should be stopped.