Template for the Terri Schiavo Case Analysis

1. Briefly outline the relevant medical facts contributing to Ms. Schiavo's condition

2. Provide a brief summary of the legal history specific to Ms. Schiavo's case. Include a discussion of the major past cases which influenced the issues in the case, focusing primarily on an individual's right to refuse medical care.

3. Based on your readings and discussions in Module 4, discuss some of the legal considerations of relevance in Ms. Schiavo's case.

4. Discuss the contextual motivations potentially influencing the following stakeholders (those directly or indirectly affected by the case), and the ethical or moral justifications for their positions: Ms. Schiavo's parents, her husband, the Governor of Florida as a representative of a state's interest, taxpayers and the disabled community.

5. Based on what you have learned so far in this course, state your ethical position relative to the issue--what would you do? Remember to justify your position.

6. Discuss at least one of the health policy considerations that are present in this case.

• In developing your response, keep in mind that public policy seeks to protect and benefit the welfare, safety and interests of society while balancing the rights of individuals. Health policy considerations are issues that can and/or should be discussed, and changed in order to avoid scenarios such as what happened with Terri Schiavo.

7. Briefly discuss what you have learned from your exploration of the Terri Schiavo case. Has the case influenced your view of advanced directives? Presuming you have not already, are you now considering completing your own advance directives? Why or Why Not?