Issues Law Med. 1991 Spring;6(4):341-60.
The United States Supreme Court reviewed cases involving eligibility standards for children with disabilities to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and a guardian's authority to withhold nutrition and hydration from a permanently disabled incompetent adult. The Americans with Disabilities Act, a major piece of civil rights legislation for persons with disabilities, promises to prohibit discrimination in all areas, including health services. Parents of infants with disabilities have appealed the dismissal of their claim under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act alleging denial of beneficial medical treatment to their children on the basis of disability. State courts continue to examine the rights of competent and incompetent patients, including "mature minors," to forgo life-sustaining treatment, including nutrition and hydration. In 1990, forty states and the District of Columbia had "living will" legislation, and nineteen states and the District of Columbia had durable power of attorney for health care laws; however, the provisions of these laws vary from state to state.
美国最高法院审查了多起案件，这些案件涉及残疾儿童领取补充保障收入（SSI）福利的资格标准，以及监护人拒绝为永久性残疾的无行为能力成年人提供营养和水分的权力。《美国残疾人法案》是一项针对残疾人的主要民权立法，承诺禁止在包括医疗服务在内的所有领域进行歧视。残疾婴儿的父母对依据《康复法案》第504条驳回其诉求提起上诉，该诉求称其子女因残疾而被拒绝接受有益的医疗治疗。州法院继续审查有行为能力和无行为能力患者（包括“成熟未成年人”）放弃维持生命治疗（包括营养和水分）的权利。1990年，40个州和哥伦比亚特区制定了“生前遗嘱”立法，19个州和哥伦比亚特区制定了医疗保健持久授权书法律；然而，这些法律的条款因州而异。
