The Landmark Case of Karen Ann Quinlan: The Right to Die

Who was involved in the first right-to-die case that went to court in 1976?

A. Nancy Beth Cruzan

B. Karen Ann Quinlan

C. Dr. Kevorkian

Answer:

The right to die first became a matter for the courts to deliberate in 1976, with the death of Karen Ann Quinlan.

In 1976, the first right-to-die case that went to court involved Karen Ann Quinlan, a 21-year-old woman who fell into a coma after consuming drugs and alcohol. Her family made the difficult decision to request that she be taken off life support, but the hospital initially refused. This decision sparked a legal battle that eventually made its way to the New Jersey Supreme Court.

The court's ruling in favor of Quinlan's right to die was a landmark decision that set a precedent for future right-to-die cases. This included the case of Nancy Beth Cruzan, who was in a persistent vegetative state, and the controversial actions of Dr. Kevorkian.

The Quinlan case brought the ethical, moral, and legal implications of the right to die to the forefront of public debate. It remains a complex and contentious issue, with advocates and opponents on both sides of the argument.