# Can a woman get pregnant in coma? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 4, 2009, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544 "2009-10-04T13:45:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sragde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Sragde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sragde)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/1 "2009-10-04T13:45:02Z")
Here is a really bizarre question :o I would like to have an answer to. I didn’t get Cecil’s answer :(, so, please, somebody - would you be so kind? I post it in the same form as in the letter (copy+paste): I know this will sound a little bit of weird (sick or retarded), but hey - it’s not that you haven’t got used to it! 😃 It’s not that it’s some kind of fantasy or something, but one day this strange thought came into my mind. I wondered about whether there is a possibility for a woman in coma to get pregnant. Not that somebody is going to make her, but just theoretically - (**1) is it possible for an unconscious woman to get fecundated?** And if it is possible **(2) has a fetus any chance to survive?** I understand that you can’t give a birth while being unconscious, but what about using Caesarean section? And speaking of fetuses, (3) **if a pregnant woman falls into coma, can her baby survive?** And finally: (4) **what is the longest time a person has spent in coma? What are the consequences after waking up?** 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/2 "2009-10-04T13:54:52Z")
Yes, there have been cases of women in comas who got pregnant. Here’s a case: [http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/04/05/doctor\_on\_trial\_in\_missed\_pregnancy\_of\_raped\_coma\_patient/](http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/04/05/doctor_on_trial_in_missed_pregnancy_of_raped_coma_patient/) I would presume that any such case would have to be considered rape, since a person in a coma can’t give consent to anything. There are many cases of women who gave birth while in a coma (that she fell into long after the conception) and the baby was O.K. I don’t know if it’s always necessary to do a cesarean in that case. ---
**Author:** ![Sragde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Sragde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sragde)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/3 "2009-10-04T15:29:30Z")
Thank you, Wendell! That’s convincing ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/4 "2009-10-04T15:54:16Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > Yes, there have been cases of women in comas who got pregnant. Here’s a case: > > [http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/04/05/doctor\_on\_trial\_in\_missed\_pregnancy\_of\_raped\_coma\_patient/](http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/04/05/doctor_on_trial_in_missed_pregnancy_of_raped_coma_patient/) > > I would presume that any such case would have to be considered rape, since a person in a coma can’t give consent to anything. I dunno; I figure that in many jurisdictions it would not be rape if her husband were to do the insemination. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/5 "2009-10-04T18:03:51Z")
Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, **Sragde** , I’m glad you posted here. Cecil only answers one question a week in his column, alas – that’s what he’s paid for, that’s what he does. So I thought you’d get faster response here. We hope you like it here and stick around! ---
**Author:** ![Sragde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Sragde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sragde)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/6 "2009-10-04T19:10:09Z")
But there’s still one question unanswered: (4) what is the longest time a person has spent in coma? What are the consequences after waking up? ---
**Author:** ![Telperien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Telperien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telperien)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/7 "2009-10-04T19:12:35Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > I dunno; I figure that in many jurisdictions it would not be rape if her husband were to do the insemination. Even though it would be de facto rape. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/8 "2009-10-04T19:53:45Z")
The longest coma was 37 years. The longest coma from which someone eventually woke up was 19 years. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/9 "2009-10-04T23:53:45Z")
> [@Telperien](#): > > Even though it would be de facto rape. Not necessarily. The woman could have foreseen the circumstances and given consent prior to her becoming comatose. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/10 "2009-10-05T00:01:43Z")
As I recall there was a case not too long ago where the husband of a comatose woman had sex with her on several occasions, and claimed that she would want him to do so. Pregnancy was not an issue in this case, but I seem to recall that he was told, basically, “don’t do it again”. There have been a number of cases where a woman has had sex with a comatose (and terminal) husband, specifically for the purpose of getting pregnant with his child. For some reason, concerns about consent don’t seem to come up in these cases. A curious asymmetry. ---
**Author:** ![Telcontar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Telcontar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telcontar)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/11 "2009-10-05T00:33:54Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > As I recall there was a case not too long ago where the husband of a comatose woman had sex with her on several occasions, and claimed that she would want him to do so. Pregnancy was not an issue in this case, but I seem to recall that he was told, basically, “don’t do it again”. > > There have been a number of cases where a woman has had sex with a comatose (and terminal) husband, specifically for the purpose of getting pregnant with his child. For some reason, concerns about consent don’t seem to come up in these cases. A curious asymmetry. Cite? (to the occurrence and the lack of objections) ---
**Author:** ![Indian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@Indian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indian)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/12 "2009-10-05T08:25:56Z")
> [@Sragde](#): > > But there’s still one question unanswered: (4) what is the longest time a person has spent in coma? What are the consequences after waking up? Polish man wakes up after [19 years](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6715313.stm) in coma . ---
**Author:** ![Sragde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Sragde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sragde)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/13 "2009-10-05T11:53:57Z")
Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/14 "2009-10-05T12:03:44Z")
> [@psychonaut](#): > > Not necessarily. The woman could have foreseen the circumstances and given consent prior to her becoming comatose. Unless that’s in writing that she gives him permission, it would be. A spouse can rape another spouse… it’s called (wait for it) spousal rape. There’s no exception just because it’s your husband. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/15 "2009-10-05T12:18:05Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > Unless that’s in writing that she gives him permission, it would be. A spouse can rape another spouse… it’s called (wait for it) spousal rape. There’s no exception just because it’s your husband. Yes there is, legally speaking. Again, it depends in the jurisdiction. Until recently, most rape laws did not apply to a husband having sex with his wife. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/16 "2009-10-05T13:35:51Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > There have been a number of cases where a woman has had sex with a comatose (and terminal) husband, specifically for the purpose of getting pregnant with his child. For some reason, concerns about consent don’t seem to come up in these cases. A curious asymmetry. Curious, not skeptical, call for cites on this. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/17 "2009-10-05T14:32:10Z")
> [@Telcontar](#): > > Cite? > (to the occurrence and the lack of objections) Here you go: [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/11/national/main4441013.shtml](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/11/national/main4441013.shtml) . He was prosecuted, but the videotape evidence was thrown out because the judge ruled he had an expectation of privacy when visiting his comatose wife. There’s a pit thread about it [here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=483004&highlight=coma) ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/18 "2009-10-05T15:55:29Z")
> [@indian](#): > > Polish man wakes up after [19 years](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6715313.stm) in coma . amazing … given how fast the world has changed in the last 25 years alone it would be like one of the SF movies where someone goes into suspended animation and wakes up hundreds of years in the future. Imagine, going from Soviet to Polish in a nap!:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/19 "2009-10-05T16:00:31Z")
> [@Serenata67](#): > > Unless that’s in writing that she gives him permission, it would be. A spouse can rape another spouse… it’s called (wait for it) spousal rape. There’s no exception just because it’s your husband. Not all cultures and countries recognize the concept of “spousal rape”. In fact, for most of history a woman had no right to say “no” to her husband, and in many parts of the world that is still true. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544/20 "2009-10-05T16:10:12Z")
> [@Telcontar](#): > > Cite? > (to the occurrence and the lack of objections) I regret that I don’t have a cite, I just saw it on a newsmagazine show some years back. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-woman-get-pregnant-in-coma/512544.md?page=2)