Dalhousie University, 1234 LeMarchant Street, Halifax, NS B3H3P7, Canada.
J Med Ethics. 2011 Mar;37(3):175-8. doi: 10.1136/jme.2010.038877. Epub 2010 Nov 17.
The right to die has for decades been recognised for persons in a vegetative state, but there remains controversy about ending life-sustaining medical treatment for persons in the minimally conscious state (MCS). The controversy is rooted in assumptions about the moral significance of consciousness, and the value of life for patients who are conscious and not terminally ill. This paper evaluates these assumptions in light of evidence that generates concerns about quality of life in the MCS. It is argued that surrogates should be permitted to make decisions to withdraw life-sustaining medical treatment from patients in the MCS.
几十年来，植物人一直被赋予死亡的权利，但对于是否应终止对最小意识状态（MCS）患者的维持生命的治疗，仍存在争议。这种争议源于对意识的道德意义以及对有意识而非绝症患者的生命价值的假设。本文根据有关 MCS 患者生活质量的担忧的证据，对这些假设进行了评估。本文认为，应该允许代理人对 MCS 患者做出停止维持生命的治疗的决定。
