FWIW, Peach, I understand that people in this country have a right to refuse medical treatment. But I think before we allow someone to be killed by dehydration and starvation in this country, that the patient's wishes should be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. We have a higher standard of evidence in criminal trials, for Heaven's sake, than is being applied here.
I'm not disagreeing.
Although I will say this. Approximately 70-75% of people in this country do not have living wills.
And yet thousands of families a day in hospital across this country make decisions exactly like this without benefit of living wills.
I think what we need to come out of this with, regardless of the outcome, is a law that says no one can be put to death or allowed to die under law without a jury trial, even if it is completely voluntary.