Question

What court decision established the right of patients to express their desires about medical treatment on advance?

Answer 1

Answer: Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health

Explanation: In Cruzan, Missouri was permitted to reject the petition to withdraw life support in this particular case, as the proof about the patient’s wishes, which hadn’t been expressed in writing, didn’t meet the “clear and convincing evidence” standard that Missouri required. (*Based on Cruzan, however, the right of patients to express their wishes directly in an advance medical directive is established*). Patients may decide in advance of suffering from a terminal condition or persistent vegetative state to refuse medical treatment and artificial hydration and nutrition. The details of how the wishes are expressed, however, are a function of state law.

Answer 2

The answer is Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health. This was a case during the 1990. It was a milestone in the United States Supreme Court case concerning a young inept adult. This was the first “right to die" case ever heard by the Court, Cruzan was debated on December 6, 1989 and decided on June 25, 1990. In a 5–4 decision, the Court declared the earlier ruling of the Supreme Court of Missouri and ruled in favor of the State of Missouri, finding it was acceptable to require "clear and convincing evidence" of a patient's requests for removal of life support. A significant conclusion of the case was the making of advance health directives.