Posted on 08/11/2008 12:21:13 PM PDT by Daniel T. Zanoza
Through the next seven days, RFFM.org will publish a series of columns which first appeared on the Illinois Right to Life Committee's web site. The articles, edited and written by IRLC's executive director Bill Beckman, will address issues which include the dangers associated with living wills, hospice care and issues dealing with patient's rights. This highly important series will provide readers with information a family must have, in order to make educated decisions regarding the medical care of their loved ones. It is a must read. For more information on alternatives to living wills and other life-affirming issues, go to http://www.illinoisrighttolife.org
The following was edited + written by Bill Beckman:
The “Living Will” - a document by which a person can give, in advance, a directive to have life-sustaining medical treatment withheld or discontinued at the time of future serious illness or injury - should be avoided by anyone who respects the sanctity of human life.
Why? ...
(Excerpt) Read more at rffm.typepad.com ...
I absolutely disagree.
If you would not want any type of life support withdrawn from you if you were incapacitated, you MUST complete a living will. Otherwise, your family members will be making that decision. They may be under significant pressure from doctors and/or the insurance company to yank your life support. They NEED to have your wishes in writing.
A living will is also important if it is acceptable to you only to withdraw certain types of life support, i.e. a respirator, while other types, i.e. hydration, should not be withdrawn.
A living will is especially important for those who don't want any type of life support (even dialysis), as family members would have a difficult time carrying out such a verbal instruction should you become incapacitated.
In short, I don't see anyone who would not be better off with a living will.
Living will is a sure guarantee of getting substandard medical care.
Your best option is a durable medical power of attorney.
You must discuss your opinions and wishes in depth and they should not have a financial stake in your demise.
I couldn’t agree more with you, and couldn’t agree less with the article in question. A Living Will codifies your wishes and the wishes of your family.
You didn’t read the piece, I guess. What is needed is the substitute Patient Protection document. In some states a living will, just because it exists can have interpretations in law that trump what you may think you are authorizing or not authorizing in that “Living Will.”
I read the piece, but I still disagree. Perhaps the form of the living will is something to be considered rather than discarding the idea of a living will altogether.
The living will I have is quite simple. It states clearly what I want withdrawn and what I do NOT want withdrawn. One would have to do significant backflips to interpret it in a way different from what I intended.
But of course, one could do the same with the Patient Protection document.
You should never get a living will. You need to get a Health Care Power of Attorney to a trusted person that knows what you want to do in certain cases.
Living wills give DOCTORS the power to do what THEY want to do.
Health Care Powers of Attorney give the person YOU PICK the power to do what YOU want them to do for you in case you can’t say so.
You should not use the proffered “Living Will” at all, ever. Don’t use anything labeled “Living Will.” Leave your intentions with your attorney and your relatives.
I already have one and feel confident that it clearly conveys my desires.
Leave your intentions with your attorney and your relatives.
Agreed. My attorney and multiple members of my family have a copy of my living will.
Good luck with that. I hope you don’t ever need it.
Your doc should have it in your file also; and a copy should be in the glove compartment of all your vehicles.
"Living Wills" mean very little...when the patient stops breathing, or their heart stops.
It's up to the patient, or the patients POA to be CLEAR about what they want....in the event of resp/cardiac arrest. And it MUST be in writing, and in the proper state/facility forms.
IMO, this is all due to CYA medicine....
BWDIK!
Good advice. We do have copies on file at the local hospital, as my hubby has had surgery. We gave it to them then.
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