Short Essay Take-Home Exam

On the morning of January 11, 1983, twenty-five-year old Nancy Cruzan lost control of her car as she traveled down an icy deserted county road in Missouri. The car overturned, and she was discovered, lying face down in a ditch, without detectable respiratory or cardiac function. Emergency medical technicians were able to restore her breathing and heartbeat, and she was transported to a hospital in an unconscious
state. A neurosurgeon there diagnosed her as having sustained probable brain damage, compounded by significant oxygen deprivation. The estimated length of the period without oxygen was twelve to fourteen minutes. (Permanent brain damage generally results after six minutes without oxygen.)
Cruzan remained in a coma for approximately three weeks, and then progressed to an unconscious state in which she was able to orally ingest some nutrition. In order to ease feeding and further her recovery, surgeons implanted a feeding and hydration tube with the consent of her then husband. In October 1983, she was admitted to a state hospital. Subsequent rehabilitative efforts proved unsuccessful. It became apparent that she had virtually no chance of regaining her mental faculties, and that Cruzan was in a persistent
vegetative state (PVS).
Answer the following question:
1. Should the emergency medical responders provide treatment and why? Provide a reasoned opinion
and define terms (50% or 25/25)
2. Should the physician continue treatment and why? Provide a reasoned opinion and define terms (50%
or 25/25)

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