Posted on 03/22/2005 4:03:02 PM PST by Crackingham
A Michigan lawmaker is working on legislation that would prohibit a spouse having an affair from denying food, fluids or medical treatment to a wife or husband who cannot make such decisions.
Rep. Joel Sheltrown on Tuesday said he wants to avoid a situation similar to Terri Schiavo's.
snip
Sheltrown, a Democrat from West Branch, said Michigan should strengthen its protections before a similar situation happens here.
"While people, in happier times, may trust their spouses to make future medical decisions for them, situations change," Sheltrown said in a statement. "In a situation where an incapacitated patient lives at the mercy of an adulterous spouse, it is in the patient's interest to make a presumption in favor of life."
Michigan law already prohibits the denial of life-sustaining treatment, such as food and water, unless the patient has expressed that such action be taken, said Sheltrown, who expects to introduce the bill in about three weeks.
Yeah, that's what a lot of people around here are saying.
Maybe I should be a private eye. THey are going to get a LOT more business.
But you, in a fit of logic-impairment, have concluded that if an individual does NOT create a Living Will, then medical professionals (and the courts) should assume s/he wants them to act as if s/he did create a Living Will.
Don't quit your day job to go into any career requiring the use of logic at any level.
Agree.
This could be a slippery slope to the max.
Bush got 54% in that district.
Big time.
Freepers want to keep people alive, regardless of the fact that they have no brain activity, indefinitely. Until nature takes its course they tell me.
Problem is, if nature had its way, Terri would have been dead 15 years ago. The machines aren't natural at all and people can now live indefinitely, on machines. Which cost the earth.
It's a burden Medicaid and the health community can't absorb. But hey, what's a little tax increase among friends. Like by 75% or so.
You just don't get it, do you?
Remember Scott Peterson?
At the rate we're going, in 50 years what he did will be legal.
Since 80% of Americans now want to be allowed to die or to be helped to die if badly injured, that is now the norm. It is up to those who want extraordinary care to make their wishes known or accept standard non-treatment.
If you try to live in the past, you will become a part of it.
SO9
Private eyes. Dick Tracy. I'm signing up.
I'm taking applications for a new internet girlfriend. Preferably over 18 but not old enough to know better.
Law offices are going to be bombarded w/ppl wanting to make up a Living Will.
We got ours make about 8 yrs. ago. It was not cheap. About $2,500 for Living Will & Family Trust.
That's been done before. Well the "kill the disabled" part, anyhow.
Such hyperbole there's no way to respond.
Yeah and all those old and sick people, I mean they've already lived their lives, why can't they just "take one for the team?"
When a spouse who has benefitted monetarily -- to the tune of almost $2 mil -- and who has used that money to support a second family -- declares after he has won (and spent) the $$$, that he conveniently remembers his wife stating that "she wouldn't want to live that way," there should be some cause for concern by the courts.
I agree this proposed Michigan law probably won't stand muster -- but it's really just an indication of the extreme frustration of those who have followed this case.
I'd love to see Michael Schiavo's depositions in the multiple malpractive lawsuits that netted him the cash. He and his attornies were surely singing a different tune about how poor Terry needed long-term care due to the nasty doctors, and how poor Michael was forever deprived of his conjugal rights -- two factors that very obviously no longer exist.
At the very least, I'd say the insurance companies should sue for a refund.
/s
That too!
Specialize in spouses who have a spouse teetering on the edge.
Just plain old Living Wills are cheaper though.
And for those who don't have much money, I'd type something out, there are forms to use on the internet, have it witnessed and notarized, etc.
And tell family members. It's better than nothing.
It's those Trusts that eat up the money :-)
The answer here is to have everything in writing. After this, there is no excuse for anyone to not have a living will, and/or advanced medical directives. If you want everything done for you, forever you'd better write it down. If you don't want to be kept alive if you're not really home, it had better be written down.
Bush got 54% in that district.
Who said they're smart?
Just pass a law that no one in the United States is allowed to die and get it over with.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.