A more thorough explanation:

Definition: Cruzan v. Missouri Department of Health (1990) was a case heard by the United States Supreme Court that dealt with the "right to die." The case involved a young adult who was unable to make their own medical decisions and whether the state of Missouri could require "clear and convincing evidence" of the patient's wish to remove life support.

Background: The main issue in this case was whether the state of Missouri was violating the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment by refusing to remove the patient from life support. The Due Process Clause states that no state can deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. The Supreme Court decided that while competent individuals have the right to refuse medical treatment, the circumstances were different for incompetent individuals. The Court supported Missouri's higher standard of evidence for whether the incompetent individual would want to refuse medical treatment if they were able to make their own decisions.

Example: In Cruzan v. Missouri Department of Health, the patient, Nancy Cruzan, was in a persistent vegetative state and unable to make her own medical decisions. Her family wanted to remove her from life support, but the state of Missouri required "clear and convincing evidence" of her wish to do so. The Supreme Court ultimately upheld Missouri's requirement for higher evidence, stating that family members may make decisions that the patient would not have wanted.

Explanation: The example illustrates the main issue in the case and how it applied to the specific situation of Nancy Cruzan. It shows how the state of Missouri required a higher standard of evidence for removing life support from an incompetent individual and how the Supreme Court supported this requirement. It also highlights the importance of considering the wishes of the patient, even if they are unable to express them themselves.