Persistent vegetative state

Schiavo accepted the doctors diagnosis of persistent vegetative and decided he wanted to remove her from the ventilator (Quill, 2005). The article says he was recalling prior statements that his wife had made, such as “I don’t want to be kept alive on a machine” (Quill, 2005). This is the part where things

that struggle puts some people in an unconscious state of mind for weeks, months or even years, so the rational being despite close relations to the individual would command them to be euthanized. Autonomy and Paternalism are at odds when it comes to the topic of euthanasia, an individual should have the autonomy to request a physician’s assistance for suicide. As well as physicians should have the paternalism to euthanized those in a vegetative state if they believe euthanasia is the moral choice

They were the subjects of public disputes with family members, court systems, medical professionals, the media, and society at large. Terri Schiavo, Nancy Cruzan and Karen Ann Quinlan; their names are synonymous with permanent vegetative state (PVS). The amazing technological advancements in modern medicine has been credited with keeping persons alive who in times past would have died, therefore this is remarkable for countless families. In the cases of the Quinlan’s, the Cruzan’s and many like them

was declared to be in a persistent vegetative state by physicians. The controversial part of the story is in regards to whether she should have a tube feeding continued or if it should be discontinued. The purpose of this paper is to further explore Cruzan’s background story, how protestors affected her case, ethical principles, how healthcare has been affected, the meaning of her gravestone, and the impact on her family. Background On January 11, 1983,

suffering, restores functioning, or enhances the quality of life. The same treatment can be considered wearing if it causes pain or prolongs the dying process without offering benefit. A person's decision to resist life support is personal, and in some states is determined by a living will. (M. Luce and A. Alpers American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Page 2029-2032) There are different life support treatments to help prolong the life of a patient. There are medical devices to aid

In the early months of 2005, Terri Schiavo’s life story, involving her persistent vegetative state (PVS) captured the worldwide spotlight and brought up controversial issues surrounding guardian care of the patient, as well as the overall decisions made by Congress. The government involvement in her case impeded any decisions the family and spouse could properly address for the well being of Schiavo (Montero 166). The governmental court system in Terri Schiavo’s case behaved immorally in regard to

in a persistent vegetative state (Perry, Churchill, & Kirshner, 2005). There were no legal documents, such as an advance directive or living will, specifying the wishes for care under such circumstances. Her husband, Michael Schiavo, was designated as her legal guardian. The Schiavo case caught the public’s attention when her husband elected to remove her feeding tube in the mid 1900’s. He understood that there has never been a case of recovery after a year of being in a persistent vegetative state

The Right to Live and Die Euthanasia encompasses various topics from active euthanasia (introducing something to cause death, in most cases this is a lethal injection of barbiturates), to passive euthanasia which is withholding treatment or support measures such as removing feeding tubes or not performing a lifesaving surgery at the wishes or consent of the patients (voluntary) or the guardian (involuntary) and physician assisted suicide where a doctor prescribes the medicine and the patient voluntarily

1975” (Fadiman 5). Of all the Lee children, Lia was the only child born in the United States; she was born in the Merced Community Medical Center (MCMC) in California. As far as the Lee family knew, Lia was a happy and healthy baby; there were no complications. Aside from births, MCMC typically serves Hmong patients with hepatitis B, “which is carried by at least fifteen percent of the Hmong refugees in the United States” (Fadiman 6). The Hmong hold a reputation for being a resilient and proud people

Should the decision to keep a person on life support be made by family members only? This question has major impact on many people’s lives, their deaths, and their quality of life. Many other questions can be asked in conjunction with this question. How would you like to be kept on life support? Would you want a doctor to make the decision of ‘life or death’? The questions just keep on coming, and every time we seem to find ourselves divided. This issue is relevant because of the recent media