jmccombi@bbncca.ARPA (Jon McCombie) (11/04/83)
From the "Today" show, morning of Thu, 3 Nov. 83:
There is a young lady (sorry, didn't catch the name or town) who suffers
from a severe case of cerebral palsy. She requires 24-hour medical
care and supervision. She has overcome her handicap admirably: she has
earned her Bachelor's degree and is working on her Master's. And she has
decided that she no longer wishes to live.
She tried to starve herself, but the hospital intervened. She has won a
court order enjoining the hospital from intervening for a period of three
weeks. The case is on appeal.
The courts have supported the right of a terminally ill patient to request
the withdrawal of life support measures, thereby permitting "death with
dignity." But it is believed that no precedent exists to help the judge
decide this case.
(Sorry for the sketchy details -- I was 3/4 asleep and the segment was
very short. Has anyone seen a newspaper article re this?)
Questions: How should the courts decide? Does this woman have the right
to commit suicide? Does anyone? Does the hospital have the right to
intervene? Does the government?
Jon McCombie
ARPA: jmccombi@BBN-UNIX
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