Implications of the Schiavo case for understanding family caregiving issues at the end of life.

The case of Mrs. Terri Schiavo illustrates common themes in family caregiving at the end of life but is distinctive from most family caregiving situations in other ways. As occurred in Mrs. Schiavo's case, family members do act as both caregivers and decisionmakers for their loved ones at the end of life, often without the benefit of written advance directives. Family stress and conflict may result, yet seldom lead to court proceedings, legislative intervention, and media coverage as occurred in the Schiavo case. The importance of informal conflict resolution and the limitations of adversarial legal approaches are discussed.