The Gilgunn case: Courage and questions

Since the jury verdict was reported in the popular and professional press i n 1995, clinicians and ethicists have been eager to hear more about the Gil gunn story. The verdict has been supported by attorney/ethicist George Anna s [1] and criticized by attorney/ethicist Alexander Capron [2]. NOW that th e plaintiff has withdrawn her appeal, the first-person, bedside perspective may be told. Paris et al. [3] report in this issue in considerable detail not only the clinical events, but of the tense drama played out for over 2 months between professionals and family. How can we benefit from their expe rience! What ICU team or ethics consultant has not lived these weeks at some time? Different setting, different characters, different details, but the same is sues, same tension, and same conflict. Could this case have been handled di fferently or better? Twelve Monday-morning quarterbacks (reviewing it 6 yea rs after the fact) said it was handled acceptably. Now, 9 years after the p atient's death, yet more wannabe quarterbacks have a chance to comment. Thi s belated review looks briefly at the clinical considerations, the ethics d eliberations, and the judicial proceedings.