Are you on the legal end or the medical end.
Being on the medical end, I’ve seen it happen over and over.
It is swept under the rug but it is very much common knowledge.
Most states in wrongful death or malpractice cases where there is a death base judgments on Years of life and earning potential.
If an elderly person winds up dead through neglect they aren’t worth a dime .
For a lawyer there is more money in a bed sore than in the death of an elderly person.
Exactly. My parents never sued anyone - never even considered it - but in the end, they wanted to sue for surgery-gone-wrong that ruined my father's chances to live. Cases for the exact same surgery gone-wrong had been fought and won in the courts, but those patients were younger. Not one lawyer would take my father's case. They told my mother straight-out: They were refusing the case because they wouldn't make enough money on a patient who was "too old." And the surgeons and doctors know the lawyers will refuse those cases.
Again here's what you said:
Having a living will is an invitation for a hospital or nursing home to neglect you to death.
A living will or advanced directive can say many different things...so my statement stands.
And personally I haven't seen people get neglected because they had one.
My treatment is the same...UNLESS they have specifically directed their care to NOT have certain things done to them..ie: No PEG, no TPN, no intubation, no CPR....etc..etc..
But, just because someone is a DNR...doesn't mean we don't "do" everything else.
Yes, I know some health care workers think a bit like that....but they are in error.