Talk:Karen Ann Quinlan

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More information about this article... The following comments have been left for this page: The book section is incomplete and needs to be edited, also the quality of the article could be greatly improved and perhaps an image could be added if one still exists. I've done minor edits, but don't have the experience or expertise to truly correct the page. -- Tom Thorpe 16:51, 27 October 2006 (UTC) Most of the the things Tom has mentioned have been tidied up. What the article needs now is expansion — with reference to legal arguments and ethical precedents and so on — and all statements need to be supported by reputable references (this is especially important as some sources disagree about aspects of this case). -- FP (talk)(edits) 11:09, 28 October 2006 (UTC) (edit)

[edit] Removed

Removed the following broken link. "Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, History page - for a more personal and extensive history (also accessible via the first link)." -- Morgan Leigh 04:29, August 25, 2005 (UTC)

Apparently the target site was redesigned. I've fixed the link location. -- FP ^{<talk><edits>} 08:24, August 25, 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Girlfriend in a Coma

Is it possible that this incident was inspiration for Douglas Coupland's Girlfriend in a Coma (novel)? The main character Karen goes into a coma after not eating and taking pills at a party with friends in the mid seventies. I can't find any reference to it on the internet.--Twintone 18:34, 11 August 2006 (UTC)

Yes. There are apparently overwhelming parallels between the Karen Ann Quinlan case and Coupland's book. Coupland himself has said, in a 1998 interview, "I just remember in the '70s, every few weeks there would be this one picture of [Quinlan] in all the papers and magazines... it was just this one rhetorical image, and part of me wondered, 'OK, what would it be like to look at the present through that lens?'" -- FirstPrinciples 02:16, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

Karen Ann Quinlin went into a coma from doing qualudes and drinking, I believe this is a very important issue to insert, prescription drug and alcohol dont mix, ever since the sad incident of her going into a coma from this I am scared of doing prescription drugs.167.142.253.107 14:43, 27 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Clean up

The book section is incomplete and needs to be edited, also the quality of the article could be greatly improved and perhaps an image could be added if one still exists. I've done minor edits, but don't have the experience or expertise to truly correct the page. -- Tim Thorpe 16:51, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

I have a great colour photograph of Karen. I have emailed her mother twice to get permission to use the image, but never got a reply. I don't really want to harass her and email her repeatedly, but it is a really good picture. I will see if it is permissible under fair use. -- FP ^{(talk)(edits)} 22:43, 27 October 2006 (UTC)

OK, I have added the photograph under the fair use doctrine, and I have cleaned up the books section. -- FP ^{(talk)(edits)} 07:29, 28 October 2006 (UTC)

Great work, it looks fantastic. Tim Thorpe 20:11, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

Thanks Tim :) I have plans to further expand and tidy the article, but it will be a couple of weeks before I can get down to it. Cheers -- FP ^{(talk)(edits)} 23:22, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Right to Die?

Is the term right to die a npov? I think that euthanasia should replace it. I'm new to Wikipedia so sorry if this is stupid suggestion. ~Dan

[edit] Relation to Catholic position needs to be revised

The current version does not correctly describe the court's treatment of the Catholic position. Although it cites the Catholic view, this was not the basis of the court's decision. E.g., court said after cited text: "Before turning to the legal and constitutional issues involved, we feel it essential to reiterate that the "Catholic view" of religious neutrality in the circumstances of this case is considered by the Court only in the aspect of its impact upon the conscience, motivation and purpose of the intending guardian, Joseph Quinlan, and not as a precedent in terms of the civil law." Instead, the court found that: "It is the issue of the constitutional right of privacy that has given us most concern, in the exceptional circumstances of this case." p.662 Thus, the basis of the decision (right of privacy) is rather very different than and arguably contrary to the Catholic approach because it could give a person a right to refuse medical treatments that the Church might consider obligatory. Could some editor please revise the article? Thanks. HG | Talk 22:32, 17 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Where's the THIRD significant outcome?

Quinlan's case continues to raise important questions in moral theology, bioethics, euthanasia, legal guardianship and civil rights; her case has affected the practice of medicine and law around the world. Three significant outcomes of her case were the development of formal ethics committees in hospitals, nursing homes and hospices, and the development of advance health directives.

Wait, there aren't three significant outcomes; there are only two. 1, the development; and 2, health directives. Where's 3? Soulrefrain 18:45, 19 August 2007 (UTC)