Folks..Make a living will..NOW.

[Nick Grana]

Terri Schiavo has been in this state for 12 years. 12 years.
You call that living? The parents think she has a quality of life worth sustaining.
Look at the media invading her privacy with those poor pictures of her face every day. That woman is between worlds. If it were I, shoot me.

But I have a living will. And so did my teenage son and mother whom both died in my arms peacefully in the last few years. I had to look at a big DNRover both of them many times in their bedrooms and hospital rooms. My son's quality of life was destroyed in 2 years. Long suffering. My Mom only a few weeks.
You think I wanted to lose them? I wanted what they wanted and did not even think of being selfish because of what I may have wanted independently. I was proud of their choices and stood by their sides in the good of days and the bad of days. I was honored that God let me be there at the right time for both. The relatives for Terri should be so lucky.

If this woman's relatives really loved her they would have ended this a long time ago. Instead they are selfish in wanting to keep her even though she surely did not want to be like this for 12 years.

She should have passed in peace to a better place a long time ago and
met my son (and one of my other son's and my youngest brother) and mother....in Heaven and not in Hell on earth.

12 years. How is this fathomable? How is this justified? Stupid people.:(
Thanks.
Agree or flame me. I figure about 50-50 but I am at peace with what I did.

[renegade600]

It is a tough decision to make. What if the day after pulling the plug science comes up with some mircle drug that would bring her completely back?

Personally I agree with you. IMO, everyone needs a living will to make their wishes known.

This is one case that no matter what happens there will not be a happy ending. Too bad no one really knows what state she is in - if theres any awareness at all. Medical science can only do so much and the rest is just guess work.

The last thing I want to say and I apologize if it sounds so cruel but starving the person to death is wrong. It is not like turning off life support and the person passes away quickly. Give her a lethal injection to make it as painless as possible.

[Ned Seagoon]

Hi Darth

You speak a lot of sense there. A properly drawn up living will helps remove most of the areas of doubt that can occur should one of these tragic situations happen to you.

Sorry to hear that you went through the heartache with members of your family, but glad that your family thought ahead and that you didn't get caught up in the media glare that is going on with the present case.

I've told my wife that if I become senile, she is to put me in a wheelchair and push me off the nearest cliff, but perhaps I should formalise my instructions a little. :D BF

[Harrie]

I won't opine because I simply don't wish to opine on the Terri Schiavo case, but, I did get a link to a site where one can order Five Wishes , which is a living will document that is legal and upheld in most of the 50 United States. They show you which ones uphold it and which do not. You can read through the site and see if you think it's worth the 5.00. I did, and I ordered it.

Five Wishes (http://www.agingwithdignity.org/5wishes.html)

[rockboy]

If you don't want to buy one you can make one. Living Will Templates here...

http://www.ilrg.com/forms/#healthcare

I made a living will years ago when I realized it might not be enough to just tell my family what my wishes are. This case was what made me do it. I reviewed and updated it last year.

The doctors and the courts decided years ago that she was beyond help. It's been in and out of courts since then. Her cerebral cortex won't grow back. Watching the media circus and the politicizing of Terri S's situation makes me realize every day when I watch the news how important it is to make sure that my wishes are known beyond any doubt.

[The Dude]

I think its TERRIBLE that they would rather let her STARVE TO DEATH than just give her a shot to end it!!!!!!!

I cant believe its happening IN OUR COUNTRY!!!!! (Or maybe i just dont want to) http://www.myfilestash.com/userfiles/thedude/icon04.gif

[Nick Grana]

The last thing I want to say and I apologize if it sounds so cruel but starving the person to death is wrong.
You can live a long time without food, but not long without water.
That's why some do-gooders jumping in on the boob tube recommend putting in an IV to sustain fluid. But this just prolongs the process. A feeding tube or a respirator are both life support systems. Not breathing is definitely quicker.
If the doctors, or nurses, or relatives thought for an instant she may be in some pain, which I doubt, pain meds like morphine could be used.
She is not starving to death but dehydrating which stops her organs from functioning.
What if the day after pulling the plug science comes up with some mircle drug that would bring her completely back?
What if it takes another 12 years?

I still think it so sad that the relatives allow the media to be in her face and not allowing her to go with dignity instead of making it a circus. The relatives are just intent on getting the pity built to their advantage.

No one wants to see their loved ones go in any way but naturally, especially their children. But when it's over a peace will fill their hearts that their child is on a better road to a better place.
Peace.

Harrie
I won't opine because I simply don't wish to opine on the Terri Schiavo case, but, I did get a link to a site where one can order Five Wishes
No one is obliged to make their opinions known and your link is great.
You can also get the proper paperwork from any hospital.

Many people are in a medical services situation in which one of the first questions asked on personal info is, "Do you have a living will?"
Unfortunately most say no.
"Would you like the paperwork to make one?"
Not right now. I'll think about it. I'll get it later.
It can be quick to become later than you can think.:fyi:
Although the majority (58%) of Americans lack a standard will, an even greater number, 69 percent, have no living will or medical directive.
Blows your mind, huh?:dizzy:

[Vercades]

I'd make a living will if I knew how... and what I wanted in it.

[Nick Grana]

I'd make a living will if I knew how... and what I wanted in it.
Some suggestions have already been posted above.
You can merely walk into any hospital and speak with a social worker and receive and get help in making a living will.

But you may also want to read this: http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Retirementandwills/Planyourestate/P97069.asp

No one can foresee every possibility of bad things that can happen and the way to deal with them but these steps will at least cover many of them.

BTW, what do you all think of parents bringing their children to the hospice and ignore the law in defiance of the decisions being made, getting arrested, and having their 7, 8, and 9 year old children being handcuffed and brought to detention centers. I've heard of 5 year olds being handcuffed at schools when creating certain problems.
These parents should be charged with child abuse and the laws and some cops should have their heads examined.
It's definitely a screwed up world at times.:dizzy:

[amnell71]

Ok, I'm sorry but I have to jump in again. It seems that none of you have listened to anything other than the mainstream media. If you listen to the family or doctor's or nurse's who have contact with Terri Schiavo, it is vastly different from the story of her husband and his attorney.

There is still confusion on what happened to this woman. There is a good chance that her husband had something to do with her condition. He has amassed close to $3 million that was supposedly to go for her care. He has allowed her NO care, NO therapy. He does not want her to get well, because she will send him to prison for the rest of his miserable life!!

I have seen many videos of this woman and listened to many tapes. I have an extensive medical background. This woman is no where near in a vegetative state as he claims. She sits up in a chair. She communicates verbally, though not with words (because he won't allow therapy). She was being fed food (pudding and jello) until he found out and had the nurse fired!! A person in a vegetative state could not ingest food orally.

We are not allowed to starve a dog to death. We must take it to the vet and have it "put down". WHY is it ok to starve this woman to death??

[Miz]

Living wills are good...as far as they go. It's a very good idea to execute a durable power of attorney which will give someone you trust implicitly the ability to make decisions about circumstances/treatment the living will may not address. Then make sure that person knows exactly how you feel about just how far resuscitation should go before it's ended.

[uripyores]

http://www.ilrg.com/forms/#healthcare

I made a living will years ago Anyone know what the legal situation in the UK is. I think this link is mainly for the US isn't it? :(

[uripyores]

There is still confusion on what happened to this woman. There is a good chance that her husband had something to do with her condition. He has amassed close to $3 million that was supposedly to go for her care. He has allowed her NO care, NO therapy. He does not want her to get well, because she will send him to prison for the rest of his miserable life!! Youre right, I, and nobody I know had any idea about all that, I've now just updated my ideas on that situation. Thanks for wise-ing us up, amnell71.

[oink]

I have mixed feelings on the whole thing. I will make a living will. I think suicide is wrong but if given the option, when I get too feeble, I would like to go out in the ocean fishing in an unseaworthy small boat. I thought this was a good piece: http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/pnoonan/

[Snurfen]

Anyone know what the legal situation in the UK is. I think this link is mainly for the US isn't it? :(

There is a lot of confusion in the UK over this. Quite simply, you cannot say you want euthanasia, but you can state quite clearly how far you want resuscitation to go. HOWEVER how that is interpreted that is totally at the discretion of the DOCTOR treating you.

Thanks for the heads up amnell, the story coming out on the newscasts over here didn't seem to tally with the video footage.

Darth, seems like you guys have been through it a bit, I don't honestly know if I could have coped with all that.