Should have started with PSSSHH 710 <| sep |> There is no such thing as a person recovering from having no brain activity . A truly brain dead individual will never wake up and continue their life . That does not happen . Brain death holds very specific criteria . Being on a ventilator for a short period of time does not necessarily mean you are brain dead , either . There are instances in which we will sedate and ventilate a person to allow for their body to rest while they recover from an illness or traumatic accident . This does not mean they are brain dead . Requiring medical assistance to stay alive temporarily is not the same as being a fetus . These are two incomparable situations . Also , vegetablism is by no means a medical term or even an actual word , at least in the context in which we are carrying on this discussion .