I don’t believe quantum mechanics can be used to discern consciousness or sentience. Observations in quantum mechanics occur when measurements significantly affect the results of the experiment. Specifically, this measurement can be done by anything, whether human or mindless scientific tool. Heisenberg said, in Physics and Philosophy:
Of course the introduction of the observer must not be misunderstood to imply that some kind of subjective features are to be brought into the description of nature. The observer has, rather, only the function of registering decisions, i.e., processes in space and time, and it does not matter whether the observer is an apparatus or a human being.
See http://www.naturalthinker.net/trl/texts/Heisenberg,Werner/Heisenberg,%20Werner%20-%20Physics%20and%20philosophy.pdf, page 61.
But I don’t study the intricacies of quantum mechanics (crazy, right?), so if I’m missing something that would allow for this distinguishing capability, I’d like to know.