Scientific postscript: Rom Houben determined not to be independently communicating through Facilitated Communication

A newsstory which received wide international press in November of 2009 was that of Rom Houben, the Belgian patient who was reported as having demonstrated almost miraculous abilities to communicate via Facilitated Communication; this after 23 years of being in a persistent vegetative state after a car accident. Among reports at the time was that Mr. Houben was planning to write a book.

After more rigorous controlled testing by Mr. Houben's neurologist, Dr. Steven Laureys, it has been found that the communication was a function of the Facilitator's communication, not Mr. Houben's.

NPR: Story of Book-Writing Coma Patient Debunked [Full article]

All Things Considered February 17, 2010

Book-Writing Man In Coma Fails Communication Test
February 17, 2010 2:29PM
Scott Hensley
Shots: NPR's Health Blog

Doubts about 'coma man' were spot on
February 15, 2010 7:00 PM
Andy Coghlan, reporter
Short Sharp Science blog, New Scientist

Facilitated Communication Case Fails to Deliver
Darcy Cowan Feb 16
Scepticon, Sciblogs

Green, Gina , Ph.D. “Facilitated Communication: Mental Miracle Or Sleight Of Hand?,” Skeptic vol. 2, no. 3, 1994, pp. 68-76. 

ABA International Statement on Facilitated Communication, 1995


© 2010 Regina G. Claypool-Frey
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