BMJ  2007;334:1377 (30 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.39239.635463.4E

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Medical classics

The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Translated from the French, The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly is a beautiful and poignant account of a 45 year old father of two falling victim to a catastrophic stroke. The resulting "locked-in syndrome" means he is unable to speak or move—his only means of interaction is through blinking his left eye.

The book focuses on his room in a naval hospital on the north coast of France. He discusses scabrous orderlies, "arrogant, brusque, sarcastic" doctors, and a fear of losing the use of the "only window to his cell," his left eye. Only Sandrine, his speech therapist, reaches out with kindness, patience, and empathy. Using an intuitive alphabet, through blinking, he learns to communicate, and painstakingly dictates this book.

Likening this suspended animation to "a giant invisible diving-bell holding my whole body prisoner" he describes the unforgiving reality of disability and the banality of complete dependence for communication, ablutions, or . . . [Full text of this article]

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