The case for death with dignity: It ended with patients’ rights

November 10, 2010

Twenty years ago, bioethics and law teamed up to defeat a common enemy — paternalistic medicine that ignored the preferences of patients and their families. In the landmark case, Cruzan vs. Director, Missouri Department of Health, an agonizing case involving a young woman from Carthage, Mo., the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that although the states have an interest in end-of-life care, adults with decision-making capacity have the right to choose and refuse any medical or surgical treatment, to make advance directives, and to name a durable power of attorney for healthcare, i.e., a surrogate, to make decisions should they lose the capacity to do so. (Kansas City Star)