Issues Law Med. 1990 Spring;5(4):393-413.
Pending before the United States Supreme Court are cases involving eligibility of children with disabilities for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and a guardian's authority to withhold nutrition and hydration from a permanently disabled but not terminally ill ward. The United States Commission on Civil Rights has issued a comprehensive report demonstrating evidence of current discrimination against infants with disabilities and examining current legal protections. In the federal courts, litigation continues in a case brought by parents on behalf of their infants with disabilities who were allegedly denied medical treatment on the basis of disability. State courts continue to examine the rights of competent and incompetent patients to forgo life-sustaining treatment, including nutrition and hydration. Discrimination against persons with AIDS or HIV continues to affect their access to health care. In 1989 forty states and the District of Columbia have "living will" legislation, and nine states have durable power of attorney for health care laws; however, the provisions of each vary from state to state.
美国最高法院正在审理的案件包括残疾儿童领取补充保障收入（SSI）福利的资格问题，以及监护人拒绝为永久性残疾但非绝症的受监护人提供营养和水分的权力问题。美国民权委员会发布了一份全面报告，证明了当前对残疾婴儿的歧视现象，并审视了现行的法律保护措施。在联邦法院，一起由父母代表其残疾婴儿提起的诉讼仍在继续，这些婴儿据称因残疾而被拒绝接受治疗。州法院继续审查有行为能力和无行为能力的患者放弃维持生命治疗（包括营养和水分）的权利。对艾滋病或艾滋病毒感染者的歧视继续影响他们获得医疗保健的机会。1989年，40个州和哥伦比亚特区有“生前遗嘱”立法，9个州有医疗保健持久授权书法律；然而，每个州的规定各不相同。
