In cases brought before the Florida judiciary concerning Living Wills the courts have always sided with the Will. I personally have one filed not only with my doctor but notarized and kepts in a lockbox. My husband and parents know where it is and have been told to follow it to the letter. That is the best I can do to protect my wishes in case something happened to me.
I know if either my spouse or parents attempted to subvert my wishes through the courts, my wishes would be upheld.
A column in the WSJ recently mentioned a study finding that, in the majority of cases, living wills are not followed. If the doctor and family agree that something else is better (not necessarily evil -- circumstances change, unforeseen things happen), there's no reason for it to go to court. He recommends something like a durable power of attorney vested in someone you trust.
And I am saying that the precedent this case has set calls into question whether or not the paradigm established up to now will continue. Citing past history is fine as far as it goes, but need I remind you and others that there was a time in this country's past were the courts stood as guardians of inalienable rights. They have now become the dispensers of them, granting the right to live or die to innocent persons as the courts decide, with no regard to what has been up to now an inalienable right.
Like I said, give me enough hearsay evidence from witnesses that may or may not have a conflict of interest, the ear of a sympathetic (perhaps conflicted) judge, and I will shred any document you might have claimed held sway, especially if you are unable to give voice to your present desires.