Karen Ann Quinlan

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Karen Ann Quinlan (pronunciation: /ˈkærən æn ˈkwɪnlən/) was an important figure in the history of American law and bioethics. She was born on March 29, 1954, and died on June 11, 1985. Quinlan became famous in the mid-1970s when her parents fought a legal battle to remove her from life support after she fell into a persistent vegetative state.

Early Life

Karen Ann Quinlan was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to parents Julia "Julie" and Joseph Quinlan. She was adopted by the Quinlans when she was just a few weeks old.

Incident and Legal Battle

On April 15, 1975, Quinlan collapsed at her home after consuming alcohol and tranquilizers, which led to her falling into a persistent vegetative state. Her parents requested that she be removed from life support, a decision that sparked a significant legal battle known as In re Quinlan. The case reached the New Jersey Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of her parents' right to make medical decisions on her behalf.

Legacy

Quinlan's case has had a profound impact on medical ethics and the law. It led to the establishment of ethics committees in hospitals and changes in laws regarding end-of-life decisions. Her case is often studied in law and medical schools and is considered a landmark in right to die and euthanasia debates.

See Also

External links

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