[JoeBobJr]

This heartbreaking story is a strong argument for married couples to fill out health care power of attorney and advance directive forms. All of this ugliness could have been so easily avoided if Terri had had her wishes in writing.

(Remember, if you wait until you need it, sometimes it's too late!)

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Chosing Godly spouses is also good advice.

[Central_Floridian]

You shouldn't have to do that with your spouse.

[tertiary01]

Regarding a living will: I've been in situations where the tenets in the living will were not followed by the MD who thought they knew better than the patient.
Also not all nursing amd medical personnel that may come in contact with you have read your living will. My ex mother-in-law had a will that specified no life support, but when she collasped, an ambulance was called and emergency medical interventions were activated. The paramedics do not have time to read all the documents before they act and once life support interventions are in place it can be difficult to have them removed. In her case she was revived to full mental and physical function even though at one point, she had been pronounced dead.