"Pulling the Plug?"

August 19, 2006 7:50 PM

When was the phrase "pull the plug" first used in the sense of allowing someone to die? (such as stopping artificial respiration, etc...)
posted by scottr to Writing & Language (4 answers total)

My guess for popular media use is with the case of Kathleen Quinlan, which was the first controversial "end-of-life" case, back in the 70s. Medical professionals probably used it earlier.
posted by stupidsexyFlanders at 8:28 PM on August 19, 2006

Karen Ann Quinlan
posted by brujita at 10:53 PM on August 19, 2006

Guesses are not going to help. As usual with such questions, I suggest you post it to wordorigins.org, which specializes in exactly this sort of thing. (If you do so, you might add a link to that thread in this one, so those of us who are interested can follow along.)
posted by languagehat at 6:57 AM on August 20, 2006

The OED's earliest reference is 1973. I'd love to know the context of the 1977 reference.

1973 Houston Chron. 21 Oct. 28 For the first time data are at hand on when to ‘pull the plug’ on an unconscious patient being sustained artificially.

1974 Observer 18 Aug. 11/4 Any prudent banker would have pulled the plug on Court Line long ago.

1977 Spare Rib Sept. 12/2 The older lady pulled the plug on her tormentors by prudently using the vibrator.
posted by obiwanwasabi at 5:19 PM on August 20, 2006 [1 favorite]