[supercat]

Or the contradictory section in the chapter on advanced directives that disallows euthanasia, but defines food and water as life support.

What would you think of amending such a section to provide that food may only be denied to patients with a prognosis of 48 hours or less to live, and water to those with 24 hours or less. If someone survives 48 hours after the last feeding or 24 hours after the last hydration, that shall be construed as evidence that they were not dying as originally thought, and both food and water must be provided for a minimum of 48 hours unless or until the patient dies in the meantime.

[kenth]

I suppose that's a way to compromise, but I'm of the opinion that the clarification of most importance is regarding the advanced directive. Without one, and without a person being able to make their wishes clear, any action taken to end their lives is to possibly kill them against their wishes.

Close the loopholes that one can abuse in order to kill another. It needs to be a first-person thing only. If the people want a right to die, that's perfectly fine, but they don't get a right to kill.

[gooleyman]

What would you think of amending such a section to provide that food may only be denied to patients with a prognosis of 48 hours or less to live, and water to those with 24 hours or less.

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I'd be totally against that, Supercat. Prognoses can be bought so easliy, as in Terri's case. If a person isn't going to live any more than 48 hours, what's the problem with feeding them for that last period of life.

My Grandmother-in-law was given just 6 months to live. You know what? She lived another 40 (forty) years (as in YEARS). There was no malice involved on her doctors part. He was just plain wrong. She wasn't on any life support, but suppose she had simply given up and jumped off a bridge or something. She would have missed out on seeing her kids and grandkids grow up.

Bottom Line: NO ONE knows how long anyone has on this earth unless he or she plans to kill that person at a time certain. Sound familiar?