[Darnright]

"Only someone with a hard copy living will should be in this position. NEVER someone without.

Contradictory/null statement on its face. If she had a Living Will on file, there would be no doubt about what she wanted done about this mess."

Only someone with a Living Will, with a DNR clause, should have treatment withheld. Of course, I disagree strongly with the premise that food and water is "medical treatment".

[Darnright]

"Only someone with a Living Will, with a DNR clause"

Should have read, with a "no heroic measures" clause, I suppose.

[strela]

Only someone with a Living Will, with a DNR clause, should have treatment withheld.

I can't agree on that one. I believe that the default should be no treatment/heroic measures UNLESS a Living Will or other document is filed indicating otherwise. There are hardheads such as myself out there who don't want a physician to lay a hand on us unless we say its OK for them to do so.

Also, I have problems with the inherent premise that the government owes a supply of food and water to every person in the United States, and further believe that mindset to be a slippery slope and subject to gross abuse. But I think that's a question of semantics.

Of course, I disagree strongly with the premise that food and water is "medical treatment".

It requires surgery to administer the portal for the food and water in the case of a non-responsive patient. The very definition of "medical treatment."