The Case of Helga Wanglie

Abstract

Helga Wanglie, an 86-year-old Minneapolis woman, died of sepsis on July 4 after being in a persistent vegetative state for over a year. She was the focus of an extremely important controversy over the right to die that culminated in a court decision just three days before her death.¹ The controversy pitted her husband and children, who wanted her life maintained on a respirator, against doctors at the Hennepin County Medical Center, who wanted her removed from the respirator because they regarded the treatment as inappropriate. The judge decided in favor of Mr. Wanglie, and Helga Wanglie died still supported . . .