DisordersofConsciousness(DoCs)raisedifficultandcomplexquestionsaboutthevalueoflifeforpersonswithimpairedconsciousness,therightsofpersonsunabletomakemedicaldecisions,andoursocial,medical,andethicalobligationstopatientswhosepersonhoodhasfrequentlybeenchallengedandneglected.Recentneuroscientificdiscoverieshaveledtoenhancedunderstandingoftheheterogeneityofthesedisorders,andfocusedrenewedattentiononthemedicalandethicalproblemofmisdiagnosis.ThisbookexaminestheentanglementofepistemicandethicaluncertaintyinDoCsandothermedicalcontexts,andhowtheyinteracttocreatebothepistemicandethicalrisks.PhilosopherandbioethicistL.SydMJohnsonpullstogethermultiplethreadsinthiswork:theontologicalmysteriesofconsciousness,medicaluncertaintyaboutunconsciousness,ableistbias,withdrawaloftreatmentinneurointensivecare,andtherarelyquestionedviewthatconsciousnessisessentialtopersonhoodandmoralstatus.JohnsonchallengeslongstandingbioethicaldogmasaboutDoCpatients,andarguesforanethicsofuncertaintyforcontextswherethereisaneedfordecisiveactioninthepresenceofunavoidableuncertainty.TheethicsofuncertaintyrefocusesethicalinquiryconcerningpersonswithDoCs,placinglessemphasisontheircontestedpersonhood,andmoreoninductiveriskanduncertainty,onrespectforautonomy,andespeciallyonepistemicjustice.Withapplicationstovariousdecisionalcontextswhereuncertaintyandethicalriskinteract,thisethicalapproachenablessurrogatedecisionmakersfacingfraughtandriskychoicestofulfilltheirobligationsasmoralandepistemicagents.
