Courts Entangled in Feeding Tube Controversies

Mishkin, B. , Withholding and withdrawing nutritional support : advance planning for hard choices. Nutr Clin Pract 1986;1:50-2.

147 Cal. App. 3d 1006, 195 Cal. Rptr. 484 (1983).

Id.; see also, Steinbock, B., The Removal of Mr. Herbert's Feeding Tube, Hastings Center Report 13-16, Oct. 1983.

In re Conroy, 98 N.J. 321, 486 A.2d 1209 (N.J. 1985).

Id. 486 A.2d at 1242-3.

In re Hier, 18 Mass. App. Ct. 200, 209 (Essex Div., Probate Ct. 1984).

Id. at 210 [quoting In re Spring, 8 Mass. App. Ct., 845-6, 399 N.E.2d 493 (1979), affd. 405 N.E.2d 417 (1977)].

In re Application of Plaza Health and Rehabilitation Center, slip. op. at 2 (Sup. Ct., Onandaga Co., N.Y., Feb. 2, 1984).

Id. at 4-5.

Bouvia v. County of Riverside, No. 159780 (Super. Ct., County of Riverside, Calif., Dec. 16, 1983).

Brophy v. New England Sinai Hospital, Docket No. 85E0009-G1, slip. op. at 25 (Mass. Probate and Family Ct., Norfolk, Mass., Oct. 21, 1985).

Id. at 18.

See pages 26-32, Hastings Center Report, Feb., 1986.

In re Nancy Ellen Jobes, No. C-4971-85E (Super. Ct. N.J., April 23, 1986).

Id. at 14 [quoting Conroy, supra, 98 N.J. at 394-5, 486 A.2d at 1249-50 (Handler, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part)].

Id. at 14 (citing the March 15, 1986 policy statement issued by the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs).

Fla. Stat. §765.03(3)(b)(1984).

Corbett v. D'Alessandro, No. 85-1052 (Fla. App. 2nd Dist., April 18, 1986).

Id., slip op. at 7.

Bouvia v. County of Riverside, supra n.10.

Bouvia v. Superior Court, Los Angeles County, 2nd. Civ. No. B019134 (Cal. Ct. App., April 16, 1986).

Id., slip op. at 21-2.

Id. at 26 [citing Rochin v. California, 342 U.S. 165 (1952)].

In a surprisingly candid concurring opinion, Judge Compton wrote that he believes Ms. Bouvia has the right to commit suicide and that the medical profession, freed of the threat of sanctions, would have no difficulty accommodating her.