Missouri Department of Health Cruzan v. Director

In a first for the U.S. Supreme Court, it entered into the debate surrounding the right-to-die argument, and concluded that the state, in the interests of safeguarding human life at all costs, may overrule relatives and medical professionals on specific human life issues. Some analysts tied the Cruzan case--and its appearance at the High Court--to the abortion question, pointing out that it paved the way for increasing judicial intrusions into citizens' privacy.