Unfortunately the law can change and unless you keep up and change your living will, you might be in for a surprise. For instance, when Terri supposedly told Michael she wouldn't want artificial life support, feeding tubes and hydration were not considered life support. The law changed in 1990 or 91 (I think). So, had she actually had a living will saying she didn't want life support, she may not have realized that with a change in law she was now saying she didn't want hydration or food.
Living Wills may actually give you a very false sense of security, since we cannot write one to cover all contengencies.
susie
In many nursing homes now, they have a detailed sheet in the front of what you want, and what you don't want as far as heroic measures, hydration, IV's, vents, tubes etc.
Also,
you'd be AMAZED at the number of eldery who want full codes! Which is their right. We assume they would all want DNR's, but that isn't the case.
And I've seen DNR's reversed after a trip to the hospital and overhearing the staff say things like "Goodie! A DNR! We don't have to do a thing!".
The elderly ain't fools, they know there are those who see them valueless.
No, the law was changed to include hydration and nutrition in 1999; Greer made it RETROACTIVE to 1990 just to include Terri. He deliberately murdered her.