The document discusses several key concepts around withholding and withdrawing life support: 1. It defines biological and biographical concepts of life and discusses standards for determining death, including cardiopulmonary and brain death standards. 2. It covers issues around patients in persistent vegetative states and cases like Karen Ann Quinlan where courts had to determine whether extraordinary measures could be withdrawn. 3. The document also discusses legal standards for proxy decision making and court rulings on informed nonconsent as well as debates around defining personhood and cases like Nancy Cruzan involving advanced directives.

1. Chapter Nine Withholding and Withdrawing Life Support