On February 25th, 1990 Terri Schiavo went into cardiac arrest. “Her neurologic examinations were indicative of a persistent vegetative state, which includes periods of wakefulness alternating with sleep, some reflexive responses to light and noise, and some basic gag and swallowing responses, but no signs of emotion, willful activity, or cognition. There is no evidence that Ms. Schiavo was suffering in a large sense.” (Quill). Unfortunately, she was so incapacitated that it was her family’s decision to talk about whether she’d make any improvements and if not, if she would have wanted to live or move on. Her husband Mr. Shiavo believed her state would not improve after three years and many treatments. The complications around this case really revolved around her family wanting Terri to live and her husband wanting her to die, and the fact that Terri could have no say. After fifteen years, two previous attempts, juggling between the Florida and supreme courts, and an “emergency measure” bill by the president, Terri’s feeding tube was removed for the final time in 2005 (Quill). Her life could have been prolonged with the artificial hydration and nutrition, but it was decided to end her life by removing the tube and “letting nature take over”. To add to the drama, it took thirteen days for Terri Schiavo to starve to death after being removed from the feeding tube. Quill, Timothy E. “The New England Journal of Medicine.” (n.d.): n. pag. Terri Schiavo. New England Journal of Medicine, 21 Apr. 2005. Web. 20 Oct. 2012. .