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Criminal Law

Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Dept. of Health

Nancy Beth Cruzan was in a persistent vegetative state when her parents sued the state hospital that had refused their attempt to discontinue her care. Concuring in the Court's decision that there was a right to refuse unwanted medical care, but that the state could require clear and convincing evidence that that was Nancy's desire, Justice Scalia took the opportunity to opine on whether there was a distinction to be drawn between choosing to forego care and choosing to actively end one's life.