Terminating artificial nutrition and hydration in persistent vegetative state patients: current and proposed state laws

摘要: This article presents an overview of current state law governing the right to terminate life-sustaining treatment in United States as it relates refusal artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH) for patients who have been diagnosed being a persistent vegetative (PVS). The was stimulated by efforts Michael Schiavo, Terri Schiavo’s husband legal guardian, discontinue ANH her, ensuing controversy. Like many other neurologists, lawyers, ethicists, we assumed that withdrawal PVS had become relatively settled prolonged litigation occurring Florida exception rather than rule.1,2 We reviewed laws ascertain whether this assumption indeed accurate. End-of-life decision making is largely governed law, although states’ prerogatives are subject federal constitutional constraints ultimately enunciated US Supreme Court. Our analysis focuses mainly on patterns variations statutes does not encompass comprehensive review case law. Fortunately, present context, most states provide fairly clear guidance physicians hospitals about may be withdrawn from patient PVS, there little need resort clarify their meaning. We used Lexis-Nexis Westlaw databases conduct search all end-of-life making. following terms: permanent , advance directive living will health care power attorney coma unconscious terminally ill terminal condition surrogate proxy . contained any terms saved …