They can be or they may not be. Someone who is intubated and placed on ventilation could be awake, kept sedated or be in a coma. It depends on what is going on with the patient, why they are being ventilated etc.
Chat with our AI personalities
Not necessarily.
Patients can be at any level of awareness, conscious or unconscious, because life support is only taking the place of the organs (heart, lungs) that would normally keep them alive.
Even if not fully awake, the person on life support may be able to hear and think, so it can help to talk to them, or let them listen to music or the radio. It can help them to remain calm when they are feeling alone or stressed.
As long as the person paying for the comatized persons support keeps paying the hospital.