Replies

Cindy,
Yes you are right about that. I abbreviated the whole long document there is some flexibility, however overall if I ever become irrerversivly incapacitated, brain dead and relying soly on machines to live, then I don't want to be kept alive like that. My wishes are not short term after an operation type of thing, it's more permenent than that.

My husband and I have both made each other Medical "Power of Attorney" for each other. However suppose my husband is just really bad, and I know his wishes but I just can't make myself follow them, in that case I can (it is within my option, no one can take this from me or step in, it is up to me to step aside) call up the second (after me) Medical Power of Attorney, my sister's husband. In this way he could make the decision and give the orders. It spares the spouse from giving the "word". As an in-law I think he would have an easier time doing this than my blood family. But I gotta tell you I beleive food and water are NOT extrodinary measures and have spelled that out completely.

I am rather shocked that my parents want food and water withheld from them. It will be hard for me to do, God forbid I should ever have to, knowing my own beliefs. I personally could not do that, I would make my big brother or my 2 sisters do that.

If your parents heard Kate Adamson on O'Reilly tonight, they may change their minds about removing food and water.

Also one poster said it was illegal in her state. I believe it was Michigan. So some states will not allow people to starve to death. They distinguish between feeding tube removal and pulling the plug.

LONE VOICE WROTE: "I am rather shocked that my parents want food and water withheld from them. It will be hard for me to do, God forbid I should ever have to, knowing my own beliefs. I personally could not do that, I would make my big brother or my 2 sisters do that."

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I AM RESPONDING:
My Aunt (who had a minor and major stroke a few weeks ago) just recently died after 21 DAYS without food or water (and virtually no ice chips).

I BEGGED and BEGGED my cousins not to let her die that way, but they insisted she had a "Living Will" which said she didn't want to be kept alive. I don't know if it specifically said no food or water, but they at least interpreted it that way. She had some EXCRUCIATING PAIN in her legs, extremely dark, concentrated urine (from no water dilution!) and (I believe) eventually had internal bleeding (from cracking, dehydrated organs).

It was VERY PAINFUL for her, VERY PAINFUL for her children to watch and VERY PAINFUL for me to hear about.

Death by starvation and dehydration is NOT PAINLESS!!!!!