Cruzan v. Missouri Department of Health recognized which patient right?

• A. The right to refuse life-sustaining treatment
• B. The right to demand experimental therapies
• C. The right to free healthcare
• D. The right to access private medical records without consent

Answer: (A)

At the heart of Cruzan v. Missouri Department of Health is patient autonomy in end-of-life care: individuals have a constitutional right to refuse life-sustaining medical treatment. The Court held that this right exists, but when a patient cannot make decisions, a state may require clear and convincing evidence of the patient’s wishes before withdrawing such treatment. This means surrogates can decide only if there is strong evidence about what the patient would have wanted; without that evidence, withdrawal cannot proceed. This case does not grant a right to demand experimental therapies, guarantee free healthcare, or allow access to private medical records without consent.