Editing Right to die (section)

=====Karen Quinlan=====
The right to die movement in the United States began with the case of [[Karen Ann Quinlan|Karen Quinlan]] in 1975 and continues to raise bioethical questions about one's quality of life and the legal process of death. Quinlan, 21, lost consciousness after consuming alcohol and tranquilizers at a party.<ref name="McFadden_1985">{{cite web | vauthors = McFadden RD | title = Karen Ann Quinlan, 31, Dies; Focus of '76 Right to Die Case | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/12/nyregion/karen-ann-quinlan-31-dies-focus-of-76-right-to-die-case.html | work = The New York Times | date = 12 June 1985 }}</ref> She soon began to experience respiratory problems, which then prevented oxygen from flowing to her brain. That led her to slip into a comatose state in which a respirator and a feeding tube were used to keep her alive and breathing.<ref name="Cornachio_1989" /><ref name="McFadden_1985" /> Quinlan did not have a proxy or living will and had not expressed her wishes if something ever happened to her to those around her, which made it difficult to decide what the next step should be.

Quinlan's parents understood that their daughter would never wake up and that prolonging her life may be more damaging and it would not be of quality life.<ref name="McFadden_1985" /><ref name="pmid4018757" /> Her father sought out the right to be Quinlan's legal guardian and petitioned for the removal of the respirator that was keeping her alive. The court, however, argued that the removal of the ventilator, which would lead to Quinlan's death, would be considered unlawful, unnatural, and unethical. Quinlan's lawyer made the counterargument that the removal of the respirator would allow Quinlan to have a natural death, which is natural and ethical. The Quinlans won the court case and were appointed as the legal guardians of their daughter. The respirator was removed in 1976, but Quinlan continued to live without the ventilator until 1985.<ref name="Cornachio_1989">{{cite journal | vauthors = Cornachio AW | title = The Right to Die in New York – the Controversy Lives. | journal = New York State Bar Journal | date = December 1989 | volume = 61 | issue = 8 | pages = 12–17 }}</ref><ref name="pmid4018757">{{cite journal | title = Quinlan case set pace for bioethics debate | journal = Hospitals | volume = 59 | issue = 15 | pages = 36–37 | date = August 1985 | pmid = 4018757 }}</ref> The case continues to raise bioethical questions of one's quality of life and the legal process of death. It also brings up many important issues that are still being addressed to this day.<ref name="pmid4018757" /><ref>{{Cite journal|title=Wolters Kluwer Health |journal=Critical Care Nursing Quarterly|year=2005|doi=10.1097/00002727-200501000-00009|pmid=15732427|last1=Porter|first1=T.|last2=Johnson|first2=P.|last3=Warren|first3=N. A.|volume=28|issue=1|pages=85–92|s2cid=36904123}}</ref> One of the critical points that the Quinlan case brings up is the patient's right to deny or withdraw treatment. Cases in which the patient rejected or withdrew treatment were then unheard of and went against medical ethics in preserving one's life. Debates on allowing patients the right to self-determination were controversial, and they would be evaluated for the next couple of decades from state to state. The case also brought up whether family members and those who are close to the patient are allowed in the decision-making process. Since Quinlan had no written documentation, voiced no decision, and appointed no proxy, a lengthy legal battle was caused between the Quinlan family and the state in determining Quinlan's best interest and determining if she would want to live or die. That had a significant influence on the use and establishment of advance directives, oral directives, proxies, and living wills.<ref name="pmid15732427">{{cite journal | vauthors = Porter T, Johnson P, Warren NA | title = Bioethical issues concerning death: death, dying, and end-of-life rights | journal = Critical Care Nursing Quarterly | volume = 28 | issue = 1 | pages = 85–92 | date = 2005 | pmid = 15732427 | doi = 10.1097/00002727-200501000-00009| s2cid = 36904123 }}</ref>