Mr “L” was a research chemist. He was 26 years old and unmarried. Five months prior to his admission to our neurological rehabilitation unit, he had sustained a focal head injury in a motor-vehicle accident. He was initially admitted to the high-care unit of another hospital. On admission, his level of consciousness on the Glasgow Coma Scale was 7/15. A right-sided hemiparesis was noted. A CT scan of his brain showed left parietal haemorrhagic contusion. He recovered well initially (and began to move both arms spontaneously). However, he subsequently developed respiratory failure, and he required ventilation for 25 days. Thereafter, it was apparent that he had developed a spastic right hemiplegia. When he began responding to verbal commands and