I know what living wills are, but I've never seen one. I would call it, do not deny me nutrition or hydration, whether by mouth, IV, or G tube. Give me medicine and a lot of blankets, because you idiots keep these rooms as cold as a meat locker.
Most people, including me, picture life support as machines keeping a body alive, where there is zero brain activity, no natural heart beat, or renal failure, etc. Time to educate the public.
There was a story about toddlers with feeding tubes. These children are victims of the "failure to thrive" syndrome. Many of these kids were preemies, and didn't bottle or breast feed, therefore they didn't develop the swallowing instinct. Before feeding tubes, these babies wasted away from starvation. They now have a chance. Where there is life, there's hope...
To me, it starts with the brain. If there's some pretty good activity goin' on, don't touch that dial, my friend! I don't care how many machines are running (picture the power meter spinning in Christmas Vacation when he lights up the house), this may be a temporary thing.
Are we clear?
Next comes some brain activity, but no hope for recovery. A respirator and feeding tube. Tough call. I'll have to trust my spouse and doctor on that one. I'd say give it a month or two to be sure (and what does insurance cover?), then pull the plug.
No brain activity, no chance for recovery, heart-lung machine, feeding tube? A no-brainer (excuse the pun).
The toddlers? Totally different.