Karen Ann Quinlan

Karen Ann Quinlan (March 29, 1954–June 11, 1985) was an important figure in the history of the right to die debate. Her case raised important questions in bioethics, euthanasia, legal guardianship and civil rights.

In 1975, Quinlan collapsed at a party, apparently after consuming alcohol and tranquilizers. She suffered irreversible brain damage after experiencing an extended period of respiratory failure, and subsequently was placed on a respirator in hospital.

Her parents wished to have her taken off the respirator that was sustaining her, but hospital officials refused. The Quinlans took their case to the New Jersey Supreme Court, which sided with the parents in its decision in 1976. After Quinlan was taken off the respirator, she surprised many by continuing to breathe unaided, and was fed by artificial nutrition for nine more years, living in a persistent vegetative state until her death from pneumonia in 1985.

See also

• Nancy Cruzan
• Sun Hudson
• Spiro Nikolouzos
• Terri Schiavo

External links

• Karen Ann Quinlan - from Answers.com. It has a picture of Quinlan.
• Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, History page - for a more personal and extensive history (also accessible via the first link).