Frontline Season 10 Episode 14 The Death of Nancy Cruzan

In Frontline season 10 episode 14, titled "The Death of Nancy Cruzan," the documentary explores the case of a young woman who was left in a vegetative state after a car accident and the legal battle that ensued over the decision to remove her feeding tube and end her life.

Nancy Cruzan, a 25-year-old woman, was traveling alone on a Missouri highway on a winter evening in 1983 when she lost control of her car and crashed into a ditch. She was discovered hours later, unconscious and without a pulse, and was rushed to the hospital. Although doctors were able to resuscitate her, she had suffered massive brain damage, and her condition quickly deteriorated to the point where she could no longer breathe on her own.

Nancy's parents, Joe and Joyce Cruzan, were faced with the agonizing decision of whether to continue their daughter's life support or to let her die. They were unsure of what Nancy's wishes would be in this situation, as she had not left any written or verbal instructions for her end-of-life care. After months of deliberation, they decided that Nancy would not want to continue living in a vegetative state and applied to the court for permission to remove her feeding tube.

The case quickly became a legal battle, as the state of Missouri, led by Attorney General William L. Webster, argued that Nancy's life should be preserved at all costs. The case was appealed all the way to the Supreme Court, where the justices were asked to decide whether or not a person had the right to refuse medical treatment and die with dignity.

Through interviews with family members, lawyers, and medical professionals, Frontline provides a comprehensive account of the legal and ethical issues involved in the Cruzan case. The documentary also examines the impact that the case had on end-of-life care in the United States and how it paved the way for the right-to-die movement.

Overall, "The Death of Nancy Cruzan" is a poignant and thought-provoking episode of Frontline that raises important questions about the value of life, the right to die, and the limits of medical technology. It is a must-watch for anyone interested in ethics, healthcare, and the law.