But half the 132,000 eligible patients are not offered a place or say no, claim experts, and 720 die needlessly each year.

The application of eligible patients must be supported by a medical practitioner.

The foundation will provide financial, travel, lodging, and medical assistance to eligible patients in need.

However, the study had difficulty attracting patients, and most eligible patients refused random assignment, so the trial was changed in 2001 to a controlled, observational study.

Second, out of almost 3500 potentially eligible patients, only 155 patients were enrolled, showing that the study can not be generalized to all patients with severe non-penetrating brain injury.