Put it in Writing

Don’t be a victim of laws that allow judges to decide what they (or anyone else) believe your wishes would be if you were to become incapacitated. ONLY YOU know for sure. This is your reminder:

An advance directive is your life on your terms. Whether you’re 18 or 80, documenting your wishes today means your family won’t have to make heart-wrenching decisions later.

To help patients, families and the hospitals that serve them, the American Hospital Association (AHA), with the cooperation of other organizations, has compiled key resources to enhance educational efforts and raise awareness around this important issue.

We encourage everyone to talk with their family, their friends, their doctor. Know the options. Decide what’s right for you. And then put it in writing.

Do the research, and know the difference in “life sustaining measures.” Remember, Stephen Hawking himself has a feeding tube and a ventilator!

For those who are against the concept of living wills/advance directives:
Making your wishes known does NOT mean you support euthanasia; it is simply protecting your wishes under the laws that exist. I am vehemently pro-life, but I do have an advance directive. Look at it this way: abortion is legal, but you have the right to refuse having one!

You can download your state’s advance directive documents and instructions HERE.



Trackback URL | Respond

2 Responses to “Put it in Writing”

  1. GravatarMay 6th, 2005 at 10:52 pm
    Tom Spence says:

    Uh Oh, not so fast. 40 states allow physicians and hospitals to override advance directive. I’ve posted on this here: http://timehathfoundus.blogspot.com/2005/05/living-wills-are-joke.html



  2. GravatarMay 25th, 2005 at 8:42 am
    kadamson says:

    Quote from http://www.lifenews.com/bio981.html

    “Terri Schiavo’s estranged husband Michael wasted no time in pursuing what was left of Terri’s estate after she passed away on March 31. The disabled woman died after suffering from a painful 13 day starvation and dehydration. Terri died just after 9:00 a.m. on the morning of the 31st and court papers filed with Circuit Court Judge George Greer show Michael’s attorneys filed the estate request just hours later.

    By 1:35 p.m., Greer had ruled in Michael’s favor to receive Terri’s estate.”

    What is so critical about the estate of a woman declared indigent in order to receive medicaid that it must be probated hours after demise?



Hey you...leave a comment!