Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health

Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health (1990) was a U.S. Supreme Court case that addressed whether a state could require clear and convincing evidence before removing a life-sustaining feeding tube from an incapacitated patient. The Court upheld Missouri’s law, affirming that individuals have a constitutional right to refuse medical treatment, but states can set standards for providing proof of a patient's wishes. The case highlighted the importance of respecting patients' rights while allowing states to implement safeguards to ensure those wishes are genuinely known and voluntary.