While end-of-life care is not a pressing issue for most Penn State students, a new Pennsylvania law on living wills will affect anyone who is suddenly unable to make life decisions.
According to www.aging.state. pa.us, family and friends have traditionally made end-of-life decisions for those unable to make their own, but on no legal basis.
Under the new law, end-of-life and healthcare decisions will be made in a specific order -- spouse, adult child, parent, adult sibling, adult grandchild or close friend -- for those without a living will.
New law grants spouses priority
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Bringing in Cruzan with a little slice of Colby...
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Denise Swenson of the coalition’s local chapter said the death of Terri Schiavo in 2005 in Florida, who, like Cruzan, had her feeding tube removed after a protracted legal battle, has helped put end-of-life preparation back in the public eye.
“The Terri Schiavo issue in Florida really brought the issue to the public attention,” she said. “It’s an excellent example of how bad it can get. No one was named who could make those decisions on her behalf. There was no completed documentation on who she wanted to make that decision.”
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“It’s not really about the law,” Colby said. “It’s about talking with your doctor and people you care about about some hard and important issues.”
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Ah, they should call this the "Michael Schiavo Clause."
If the spouse doesn't have a will, then the {cough} surviving spouse gets to inherit 100% of any property, too. Isn't this a fine alternative to divorce? Bump off your spouse instead and keep the money.
The spouse doesn't have much money? Why, sue for some! File a malpractice suit! Don't worry, you don't have to have a real case, the jury will feel sorry for your spouse. Besides, you're only screwing insurance companies. That's not like stealing or anything.
Mikey blazed the whole trail! Every time we dehydrate and starve another innocent spouse, we must praise his name with great praise!
Jodi was SO stupid.
I have no problem with them choosing a guardian from a list of family members, for people who haven't put their choice of guardian in writing. And I think their order of priority makes sense. They have provisions for replacing an unqualified guardian, though these provisions could have been better written.
Where the real problem comes in is the god-like power granted to guardians, to end the lives of their wards, in the absence of any known wishes of the wards, and sometimes against the expressed wishes of the wards.
You could put it in writing that you would want a feeding tube if you were severely brain damaged, and the guardian appointed by your doctor could say "He didn't specify what he would want if 30% of his brain was atrophed. Remove the feeding tube." And that's the way it would be.
The individual doesn't have to be comatose, PVS, or brain dead. Incompetent will suffice. You can be fully aware, but unable to express yourself, and the family member, friend, or neighbor chosen by the doctor to represent you can order your death.