Nancy Beth Cruzan

Nancy Beth Cruzan was a young woman who, in 1983, was seriously injured in a car accident that left her in a persistent vegetative state. Her case became significant in the U.S. legal system as it raised important questions about the right to refuse medical treatment and end-of-life decisions. In 1990, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could require clear evidence of a patient's wishes regarding life support. Cruzan's family eventually won the right to remove her feeding tube, leading to her death in 1990. Her case has had a lasting impact on discussions about patient autonomy and medical ethics.