Opinion ID: 2262015
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Jonsen et al., Clinical Ethics: A Practical Approach to Ethical Decisions in Clinical Medicine at 106-07 (2d ed. 1986).

Text: I do not mean to suggest that we ought to presume that people in a persistent vegetative state would choose not to have their existence maintained by artificial nutrition and hydration. I do suggest that, even though the patient did not or could not clearly and convincingly evidence any views on the subject, the patient's family, absent any suggestion of improper motives, should be able to secure court approval to have life support terminated where the family believes that would be what the patient would choose if able to express a choice. The majority holds that Judge Fader was correct in ruling that Ronald's gastrostomy tube should not be removed. The majority's sole consideration was that Ronald had never clearly and convincingly evidenced his views. I submit that Judge Fader was correct in ruling that Ronald's gastrostomy tube should not be removed because 1) Ronald had never clearly evidenced his views on the subject and 2) the two family members closest to him differed in their sincere beliefs as to what Ronald would have wanted. Therefore, Judge Fader could conclude there was no clear and convincing evidence as to what Ronald would have wanted regarding removal of the gastrostomy tube.