Type Case Briefing Significance/Outcome

Roe v. Wade Roe requests abortion after - Texas antiabortion laws were
being “raped”. Although she determined unconstitutional.
lied, ruling was upheld - Limits abortion regulations to 3rd
trimester
- Based on right of Personal
Privacy (14th Amendment)

A Pole v. Ullman Pharmacologist sells Court overrides law based on

contraceptive against the law right to privacy (as are the
B following cases also)

O Maher v. Roe States can refuse to provide

abortions to women on welfare,
R unless it will preserve mother’s
life
T
Harris v. McRae McRae challenges Hyde Federal government will not fund
Amendment (created to abortions unless:
I regulate Medicaid covered 1. It preserves mother’s life
abortions) 2. Pregnancy is product of
O rape or incest

P. Parenthood v. Overrules Missouri law of

N Danforth allowing husbands to veto
abortions.

Thornsburg v. Court decrees Penn’s Abortion

American Control Act.
College of -Allows abortionists to withhold
OB/Gyn information.

W. Webster v. Prohibits physicians in the state

Reprod. Health of Missouri to perform abortions.
Services -Allows each state to set own
restrictions
 Pole v. Ullman Pharmacologist sells Court overrides state law based
C
contraceptive against state law on right to privacy
O
N
T
R Griswald v. Physician accused for Court establishes rights to access
Connecticut prescribing contraceptives. A contraceptives
A possible pregnancy threatened
C patient’s life
E
P Eisensadt v. Allows unmarried couples to
T Baird access contraceptives
I
V Carey v. Allows minors access to
Population contraceptives
E Services
S

Mario and Elsa Kill and leave million and No legal accusations or
R
Rios several frozen embryos repercussions against the ones
E involved. (No current law deals
P with this matter)
R
O
Marty and Sue Made embryos; divorced later Embryos locked under settlement
D Davis conflict
U
C
T
I
O
N
 Angie Carter Patient with terminal cancer. Court of Appeals delegate
M
Refuses C-Section life/death issues to mothers.
O Pregnant woman should decide
T on behalf of herself and the fetus.
H
E It is unlawful to withhold a
Baby Doe Baby Dx Down Syndrome and handicapped infant nutritional
R Esophageal Atresia. sustenance, medical or surgical
- treatment unless:
F Parents deny permission for -Infant is irreversibly comatose
E life saving surgery. Baby dies -If provision of treatment is futile
awaiting court decision. or prolongs death.
T
U Court upholds parents decision
S Baby Jane Doe Microcephalic, hydrocephalic, based on the principles discussed
/ Spina Bifida, severe in Baby Doe case.
retardation.
B
-With corrective surgery, life
A expectancy was 20 years.
B
Y Parents decide agree to any Tx
except for surgery.
C
O No legal battle was engaged,
N Danielle Anoxic encephalopathy, severe however, the Ethics Committee’s
F retardation, seizures, spastic reasons could have been
quadriplegia. questioned as the total cost for
L -Mother requests everything Danielle in the new hospital
I be done in favor of child. summed to $16 million.
C
T Ethics Committee:
-Permanent ventilation is
S
inhumane
-Child transferred to another
hospital
Clashing of Physiological v.
Baby K Ananencephalic. Normative Futility.
-Mother wants MV(Mechanical In these cases, critical care Tx
Ventilation) should be done even if it seems
-Physicians refuse to maintain to be physiologically futile.
baby on MV
 Karen Quinlan Drug intoxication leading to
coma and subsequent
Persistent Vegetative State.
Parents request MV and
E Nasogastric feeding removed.
U Physicians refuse.
T Nancy Cruzan Car accident. Goes into PVS
H Parents request withdrawal of
A feeding tube.
N Physicians refuse.
A Although no advance
S directives, parents recall
I daughter talking about not
A wanting MV or feeding tubes if
she were to enter to PVS
(preponderance of evidence)
Parents uphold right to privacy
invalidating the AMA standard
procedures for MVs.
MV was weaned.
Quinlan lives 10 more years.
Pioneer ruling for recognition of
surrogates. Also acknowledges
right to refusal of medical
therapy while competent.
If incompetent, then:
-Preponderance of evidence
-Clear and convincing evidence
-Beyond a reasonable doubt