Quinlan case

The Quinlan case refers to the legal battle surrounding Karen Ann Quinlan, a young woman who fell into a vegetative state after a drug overdose in 1975. Her parents sought to remove her from life support, believing she would not recover. The case went to court, raising ethical questions about patient autonomy and the right to die. In 1976, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that Quinlan's parents could make medical decisions on her behalf, allowing her to be removed from the ventilator. This landmark decision helped establish important legal precedents for end-of-life care and patient rights.