Vanderbilt Television News Archive

(Studio) Report on ruling with regard to right-to-die in California introduced
REPORTER: Dan Rather

(Los Angeles, California) Case of William Bartling, suffering from 5 potentially fatal diseases, detailed. [MAN - asks Bartling with regard to living conditions.] Bartling answers with head mvts. Bartling family's court case to force church-run Glendale, California, hospital to remove Bartling from respirator noted. His death one day before case went to court cited. California appeals court decision that patients have constitutional right to refuse life support outlined. [Widow, Ruth BARTLING - comments.] [Family attorney Richard SCOTT - comments.] [Glendale Adventist Med. Center spokesperson Bob SCOTT - comments.] Case of Charles Perricone, of Mineola, New York, declared brain-dead in mid-December, given as example of usual right-to-die cases in which patient does not participate. [Widow, Marie PERRICONE - comments.] Reasons for medical profession's resistance to right-to-die examined. [Hastings Center ethics expert Daniel CALLAHAN - comments.]
REPORTER: Jerry Bowen