Living Will

One of the benefits of the publicity regarding Terri Schiavo is that a lot of people have decided to create living wills that unambiguously state their desire to be taken off life support in the event that they are declared to be in a vegetative state. Both of my parents have told me informally that they would hate to be kept alive in that kind of state, and I feel the same way. I'm going to call them next week and make sure that they've got this down in writing. I'm also going to contact an attorney and create a living will of my own.

One area that I don't know much about are the options that are available for ending my life in this kind of situation. When my cat was dying of cancer after using up his nine lives, I was thankful to be able to do the kind thing and end his life with a couple of painless injections. The first injection was a powerful anaesthetic that put him into a deep sleep. The second injection stopped his heart in a few seconds. It was terribly sad, but he died comfortably, surrounded by people who loved him, and it was the most loving thing to do under the circumstances.

When I hear about letting people on life support die by removing their feeding tube, it sounds like a lengthy and painful process. If I am unfortunate enough to end up in a vegetative state, I would want the executors of my living will to end my life quickly and painlessly, just like I was able to do for my furry friend.

Comments

[Roger L. Cauvin]

Please keep us informed about your living will. I want to compose one as well, but would like to follow in someone else's footsteps.

[Graham Glass]

Hi Roger, will do (pardon the pun). Also, I chatted with my Dad this morning about a living will, and he is also interested to find out more. I'll post my findings to this blog.

[Todd Girvin]

A friend of mine works in state politics. She whitnessed a hearing where the National Right to Life organization tried to pass a bill that would declare a person incompetent to make decisions as soon as they were unconscious, thus giving the state (or a party ordained by the state) the right to reverse decisions already made by the individual. Their goal, of course, was to step in and reinstate life support as soon as it was disconnected or prevent its disconnection all together for someone in a coma. Can you say fascist?

[Roger L. Cauvin]

From http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/week_2005_03_20.php#005210 :

"I heard from a medical social worker who made it clear 'Living Wills' won't necessarily control medical decisions in cases like Schiavo's. He suggested the far superior instrument is a Durable Power of Attorney for Medical Care, which not only indicates your wishes about live-support contingencies, but gives the person of your choice real control over medical decisions."

[SBG'P"]

I agree that a "Durable Power of Attorney" can be a more viable legal instrument in cases when one becomes incapacitated and needs to have someone act on one's behalf. The issue with such document is in deciding who can be the an appropriate person to serve as the agent. After all, you are trusting not only your property, but perhaps your life, to the person you appoint.