[Petronius]

Another HUGE point, is that the living wills, or someone conveying their wishes to someone else, mean in a terminal condition.

I did not know this. This should have decided things in Terri's favor. I simply assumed that I could have a binding, legal document stating that if I - because of _any_ incapacitation - am unable to feed myself, then no one else is to. Of course, this would ruin any chances of rehab for me, but that should be my business. I'm rather disturbed by this news.

1. With this type of death, will I have to suffer a lot more than my condition may have already made me suffer, i.e. cancer, etc. Does the withdrawal of water/food really cause as long as 2 weeks of pain, thirst, and additoinal suffering?

I seriously doubt this - as long as proper amounts of pain medication are used.

[oreolady]

Maybe I won't suffer, but as I watched my sons during the 10 month death-watch of their Dad, along with me, did realize how much just that one point alone the family members suffer.
To add starvation to it just adds another time dimension, or even delay from "natural" death, such as ceasing to breathe, heart stoppage, etc.