Spiro Nikolouzos case

Spiro Nikolouzos (pronunciation: /ˈspaɪroʊ nɪkəˈluːzɒs/) is a significant case in the field of medical ethics and end-of-life care.

Etymology

The term "Spiro Nikolouzos" is derived from the name of the patient involved in the case. Spiro is a common Greek name, and Nikolouzos is a Greek surname.

Overview

The Spiro Nikolouzos case refers to a legal and ethical controversy that occurred in Texas, United States, in 2005. Spiro Nikolouzos, a 68-year-old man, was in a persistent vegetative state following a brain surgery. The case became a focal point in the debate over right to die and medical futility.

Background

Spiro Nikolouzos had been living in a nursing home for several years due to a degenerative brain condition. In 2005, he was admitted to St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston, Texas, after developing a skin infection. His condition deteriorated, and he was placed on a ventilator and feeding tube. The hospital sought to remove his life support, citing the Texas Advance Directives Act, also known as the Futile Care Law, which allows hospitals to withdraw life-sustaining treatment in cases deemed medically futile.

Controversy

The decision to remove life support sparked a legal battle between the hospital and Nikolouzos' family, who argued that he was responsive and should continue to receive care. The case drew national attention and raised questions about the ethics of end-of-life decisions, patient autonomy, and the role of medical professionals in such decisions.

Related Terms

• Medical Ethics
• End-of-life care
• Right to die
• Medical futility
• Brain surgery
• Ventilator
• Futile Care Law

See Also

• Terri Schiavo case
• Karen Ann Quinlan case
• Nancy Cruzan case

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Spiro Nikolouzos case
• Wikipedia's article - Spiro Nikolouzos case

This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

---

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski