Abstract: Persistent vegetative state (PVS) is described as one of the complications of brain damage in the current forensic science literatures. PVS unrelated to brain damage, however, is not uncommon in daily forensic practice. Currently, only "Assessment for Body Impairment of the Injured in Road Traffic Accident" designates PVS as one of its items under the section of "Brain, Spinal Cord, and Nerves Injury." Therefore, it is difficult to assess the damage and disability in PVS, especially PVS due to non-brain damage. Based on a case of PVS caused by chest injury in combination with relevant literature review, this paper provides a summary on the general information, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of PVS, as well as a guideline for its forensic assessment.

Key words: forensic clinical medicine, persistent vegetative state, non-brain injury, forensic assessment