Famous End-of-Life Disputes That Could Have Been Avoided With a Living Will

When someone becomes unable to make their own medical decisions, having a living will in place can prevent confusion, delay, and painful conflict among loved ones. A living will provides clear instructions for medical care, including what treatments you want—or don’t want—if you are terminally ill or in a permanent vegetative state.

Unfortunately, when no such document exists, families and courts are often left to guess. Here are several high-profile cases where the absence of a living will led to public controversy, prolonged legal battles, and emotional turmoil.

Terri Schiavo (Florida, 1990–2005)

Terri Schiavo collapsed in 1990 and fell into a persistent vegetative state. For years, her husband and her parents fought in court over whether she should remain on life support. Her husband claimed she would not have wanted to be kept alive in that condition, while her parents disagreed. The battle lasted 15 years, involved multiple court rulings and political interventions, and only ended in 2005 when her feeding tube was removed.

This case became a national flashpoint over right-to-die issues. A clear living will from Terri could have saved her family from years of anguish.

Nancy Cruzan (Missouri, 1983–1990)

In 1983, 25-year-old Nancy Cruzan lost control of her car and was left in a vegetative state. Her family believed she would not want to live indefinitely with no awareness or recovery. However, the hospital refused to remove her feeding tube without a court order. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled that clear and convincing evidence of a patient’s wishes was required to withdraw life-sustaining treatment.

Eventually, new testimony from friends led to permission to remove the tube. Nancy’s case helped lead to the 1990 federal Patient Self-Determination Act, which encourages Americans to create advance directives.

Bobbi Kristina Brown (Georgia, 2015)

Daughter of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, Bobbi Kristina was found unresponsive in a bathtub in 2015. She never regained consciousness and remained on life support for months. Her family was divided over how to proceed, and while the exact medical decisions were kept private, the prolonged nature of the case underscored how lacking a directive can complicate and prolong difficult end-of-life decisions.

Gary Coleman (Utah, 2010)

Actor Gary Coleman, famous for his role in ‘Diff’rent Strokes,’ suffered a brain hemorrhage in 2010. His ex-wife authorized his life support to be removed, but controversy ensued about whether she had the legal right to do so and whether Gary had any directives in place. The lack of clarity led to media speculation and family tension. A living will could have made his wishes unambiguous and helped avoid public scrutiny.

The Common Thread: A Missing Living Will

In each of these cases, tragedy was compounded by uncertainty. Family members often disagreed, the public weighed in, and in some cases, the courts had to decide.

A living will gives you control over your end-of-life care and protects your loved ones from having to make impossible decisions without guidance. It is a gift of peace, clarity, and dignity.

If you don’t yet have a living will, now is the time. It takes just a small effort today to prevent a world of confusion tomorrow.

TrustHandled will create this document for you.