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Community Corner

The Karen Ann Quinlan "right to die" case

The exhibit “Controversies” presents challenging subject matter that inspires people to consider the ways in which they think about frequently debated issues: medical experimentation, immigration, and the right to die. This spring Macculloch Hall Historical Museum (MHHM) presents a speaker series in conjunction with the exhibit on the first Sunday of each month through June. The exhibit explores local history events which had national significance: the Antoine LeBlanc murder trial and public execution; the immigration issues of the late nineteenth century as depicted by political cartoonist Thomas Nast, a Morristown resident, and the 1976 Karen Ann Quinlan “right to die” case.
On April 15, 1975 Karen Ann Quinlan returned home from a party where she had taken a deadly combination of tranquilizer drugs and alcohol. Ms. Quinlan received CPR but remained in a comatose state. When her father asked that she be removed from treatment prolonging the coma, the case was held before the Superior Court in Morristown as well as the NJ Supreme Court. The landmark decision allowed Mr. Quinlan to make treatment decisions, thus allowing families and other surrogate deciders the right to refuse treatment that could not return the patient to a thinking, feeling, loving state of life. On Sunday April 6th, join the attorney for the case, the Honorable Paul Armstrong, and physician Dr. Joseph F. Fennelly, who cared for Ms. Quinlan after the Superior Court decision. They will discuss the medical profession’s 50-year struggle with how to arrive at the best balance of care and cure.  
Dr. Fennelly is a leading advocate and lecturer on end of life care and the right to die movement. He is active in the medical profession, also lecturing on the role of pastoral care and the need for improved nursing and care facilities. His active interest in NJ’s health care system has resulted in positive change within long term care facilities, and in- and out-patient facilities. Dr. Fennelly’s involvement in the Karen Ann Quinlan case and other right to die court cases made him an expert on the legal and ethical issues surrounding the right to die movement. He has lectured on his experiences with the Quinlan case, his perceptions of the Terri Schiavo case, and similar nationally known cases. 
Paul W. Armstrong was nominated to the Superior Court by the Governor of New Jersey; the Senate confirmed his nomination in the Spring of 2000. The Honorable Judge Armstrong presided over the case of “State of New Jersey v. Charles Cullen” (an infamous nurse serial-killer). As a member of the bar, Judge Armstrong was a pioneer of patients’ rights, and argued before the Supreme Court of New Jersey in “In re Quinlan and Matter of Jobes” as counsel to the families of Karen Ann Quinlan and Nancy Ellen Jobes.  He served as Chairman of both the Commission on Legal and Ethical Issues in the Delivery of Health Care. He frequently appeared as a legal commentator on network and Court TV. Judge Armstrong served as initial counsel, trustee and incorporator of the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice as well as the New Jersey Hospice Organization.  Following the presentation visitors can view the exhibit, including primary source documents from the Quinlan case, and examples of advance directives for Health Care. “Controversies” is on view during Museum touring hours through June 2014. Please note the subject matter may not be suitable for all audiences. For more information about the speakers in the “Controversies” series, visit maccullochhall.org. Information on a second series of programs, celebrating the 350th New Jersey Anniversary, is also available on the website.
Tickets for Sunday programs go on sale from 1pm on the day of the program, no advance sales, and remain on sale until the presentation begins at 4:30pm.  The upstairs gallery exhibits “Thomas Nast Brings Down Boss Tweed,” and “Made in New Jersey: A Celebration of Decorative and Fine Arts” will remain open until 4:30pm, with the “Controversies” exhibit closing at 3:30 pm in preparation for the program. Tickets to hear speakers are Adults $8; Seniors & Students $6; Children 6 – 12 $4. Members and children under 5 admitted free. Speaker tickets include admission to a docent-led period room tour for visitors who sign up during the afternoon. The last tour ticket is sold at 3pm.
MHHM preserves the history of the Macculloch-Miller families, the Morris area community, and the legacy of its founder W. Parsons Todd through its historic site, collections, exhibits, and educational and cultural programs. MHHM is open for house and exhibit tours on Wednesdays, Thursdays & Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. The last tour ticket is sold at 3pm. Adults $8; Seniors & Students $6; Children 6 – 12 $4. Members and children under 5 are free. The gardens at MHHM are open Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm and Sundays 1pm - 4pm unless posted otherwise. Call (973) 538-2404 ext. 10, visit our website www.maccullochhall.org find us on Facebook.  MHHM, 45 Macculloch Ave., Morristown, NJ 07960.  Macculloch Hall Historical Museum received an operating support grant from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.  Macculloch Hall Historical Museum is a nonprofit educational affiliate of the W. Parsons Todd Foundation.  

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