The Hastings Center for Bioethics

Springtime 1976 in America: While the country was preparing for its 200th birthday celebrations, one of the most significant hospital culture shifts was happening in the New Jersey Supreme Court. Karen Ann Quinlan’s surrogate decision-makers – her parents – won the right to turn off the ventilator that had been keeping their comatose daughter alive.

After a suicide attempt, a 71-year-old woman arrived in the intensive care unit in shock but breathing on her own. A DNR request, scribbled on a napkin, was found next to her. Should her DNR request be honored?

This case was shared on the group chat of our Master’s of Bioethics class by the patient’s physician. A classmate responded: “At 71, she should be allowed to...

New clinical guidelines for the diagnosis of endometriosis are welcome news. The guidelines, recently issued by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AC...