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To: EternalVigilance

The Legislature recognizes that for some the administration of life-prolonging medical procedures may result in only a precarious and burdensome existence. In order to ensure that the rights and intentions of a person may be respected even after he or she is no longer able to participate actively in decisions concerning himself or herself, and to encourage communication among such patient, his or her family, and his or her physician, the Legislature declares that the laws of this state recognize the right of a competent adult to make an advance directive instructing his or her physician to provide, withhold, or withdraw life-prolonging procedures, or to designate another to make the treatment decision for him or her in the event that such person should become incapacitated and unable to personally direct his or her medical care. § 765.102(3), Florida Statutes.

The Legislature has also defined what is a "life-prolonging procedure":


"Life-prolonging procedure" means any medical procedure, treatment, or intervention, including artificially provided sustenance and hydration, which sustains, restores, or supplants a spontaneous vital function. The term does not include the administration of medication or performance of medical procedure, when such medication or procedure is deemed necessary to provide comfort care or to alleviate pain. § 765.101(10), Florida Statutes (italics added by me).


17 posted on 02/28/2005 4:00:21 PM PST by KDD
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To: KDD

You're a ghoul.


20 posted on 02/28/2005 4:03:56 PM PST by EternalVigilance (Freedom. Brought to you by the grace of God and the Red, White and Blue...)
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To: KDD
The term does not include the administration of medication or performance of medical procedure, when such medication or procedure is deemed necessary to provide comfort care or to alleviate pain. § 765.101(10), Florida Statutes (italics added by me).

Given that dehydration is painful, would not water be an appropriate measure to alleviate such pain?

22 posted on 02/28/2005 4:05:38 PM PST by supercat (For Florida officials to be free of the Albatross, they should let it fly away.)
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