Give some long and hard thought about this living will stuff

[NNN0LHI]

I have. The conclusion I have come to is that I will leave this decision of a DNR up to myself if and when that day comes. Not before. And if something were to happen where I was unable to make that decision I trust my family will have the capacity to know what I would want. And if they were to make the wrong decision by some stroke of fate chances are I won't know it anyway. I realize that there are some exceptions to that rule. But I will take my chances.

Now if everyone else wants to run out and have a living with with a DNR written up that is fine with me. Be my guest. I hope all Republicans have one of them. But I am cantankerous old SOB. If by some chance this decision does not work out well for me I will have live with that. Or die with that. All I care about is just don't be showing my dirty ass on CNN, MSNBC, and the rest of the whore media outlets so they can make money off of me. Fuck them very much. That is my opinion on this. So give it some serious thought yourself before making any firm decisions on this. Take care and good luck to all of you.

Don

[Maru Kitteh]

1. Well said, and I agree with you

Thank God I trust my family.

[Dookus]

3. I'm sure Terri Schiavo

trusted her family, too. See where it got her?

[NNN0LHI]

12. I have enough faith in MY family that they won't displaying me on...

...cable 24/7. If you don't, go with the living will and the DNR. That is your right. And I fully respect that right. Take care and good luck.

Don

[stubertmcfly]

22. um...

...i am not so sure you or your family will have any say in what shows up on cnn or faux. seriously. not having a living will is why this debacle is going on. if shiavo had one, we wouldn't have had to endure any of this crap. and neither would she.

having a paper trail is the only way to ensure some semblance of control. if the freepers continue to push this country to the "right", i am not even so sure that a living will will do it. look at what they are doing with hospitals not having to provide abortion info to rape victims. these "no big government" weirdos sure seem to like government intrusion into personal decisions, don't they?

[NNN0LHI]

23. Where do you think the cable whores got videotape of Mrs. Schiavo?

The parents gave it to them. Thats where they got it.

Don

[NNN0LHI]

30. What kind crap is Mrs. Shiavo enduring?

She don't even know what planet she is on. So how can you suggest she is enduring something? I don't get it?

Don

[stubertmcfly]

39. yes.

you are correct that the initial video was distributed by her family but apparently ms. shiavo didn't want to live like this and her family chose to ignore those wishes. how do you know that your family won't do the same in similar situations? i am simply suggesting that putting your wishes down in writing will give you some pretty solid ground on which to stand vs. being at the whim of people who may or may not do the right thing when push comes to shove.

and though she is unaware of what is going on around her, she is still a person whose privacy has been invaded and who is being paraded around by the right wing. that is what she is having to endure. if i were in the same situation, cognizant or not, i would not want my body, person, previous being, to have to endure this treatment.

do whatever you like. it is your choice. i am just trying to explain that having your wishes documented in writing is not a bad idea if you want to ensure that they are followed. people get really weird when loved-ones are sick, injured and/or dying. that is all.

[NNN0LHI]

40. I do plan on having my wishes documented in writing

And my wishes will be to have any and all measures taken to keep me alive as long as possible. Including a special session of Congress if needed to keep me alive. If my family gets weird about my wishes that will be their problem. Not mine. I hope I outlive them all if they take the weird route. Even if it is in a hospice.

You have probably heard many people say "no one is going to live forever". You may have even said this yourself? I know I have said it. But you know something? No one is thinking about themselves when they make that statement. They are thinking about everyone else when they make that statement. Thats what I think anyway.

I will respect all of my families wishes regardless of what they decide. I just hope they do the same for me. But if they don't there will be nothing I can do about that. And chances are I won't know about it anyway.

Don

[stubertmcfly]

43. i think...

...perhaps we have misunderstood one another. if you wish to be kept alive by all means, then go for it. all i am saying is document that in writing. sounds like you are doing that which is great. my point is if ms. shiavo had done the same (either for, or against a DNR) then we all would have been saved a lot of headache and she would have been saved a lot of indignity.

that is all.

[Dookus]

2. I think the best reason for one

is so you can appoint somebody you trust to make the decisions. What if your family can't agree? Why tear them apart over this?

No, it's much easier to designate somebody you trust.

[NNN0LHI]

15. I trust all my family members enough to make the correct decision n/t

[phantom power]

4. If you plan on "trusting your family", make sure you

sit down and talk it all out with them ahead of time, and in great detail. Which you should also do even if you do have a living will and power of medical-attorney documents drawn up.

[SoCalDem]

5. It should be "offered" at the age of majority..just like selective service

or marriage..whichever comes first..

It could be a simple declaration of intent..

Just a simple document stating what YOUR wishes would be ...just in case.. No one young EVER expects to die, and those are the very people who NEED to have a plan in mind.. Once we age, and have kids, we automatically start to think about what "might happen".. The young ones who become suddenly incapacitated pose the bigges dilemma for a family..

I remember when we got married, we had to sign all kinds of papers, so why not just add one more...and to the college applications too..

[seabeyond]

6. i am using this one, and having father, husband and brothers

sign

NEW LIVING WILL FOR JOHN DOE

I, _________________________ (fill in the blank), being of sound mind and body, do not wish to be kept alive indefinitely by artificial means.

Under no circumstances should my fate be put in the hands of peckerwood politicians who couldn't pass ninth-grade biology if their lives depended on it. If a reasonable amount of time passes and I fail to sit up and ask for a cold beer and the score of the Red Sox game, it should be presumed that I won't ever get better.

When such a determination is reached, I hereby instruct my spouse, children, and/or attending physicians to pull the plug, reel in the tubes and call it a day. If they won't do it, go out on the street and get some random passerby or wino.

Under no circumstances shall the members of the Legislature enact a special law to keep me on life-support machinery. I don't care how many fundamentalist votes they're trying to scrounge for their run for the presidency; they should play politics with someone else's life and leave me alone to die in peace. It is my wish that these boneheads mind their own damn business, and pay attention instead to the health, education and future of the millions of Americans who aren't in a permanent coma. It just goes to show you how sick you have to be in this country to get Congress to pay attention to your health care.

I couldn't care less if a hundred thousand religious zealots send e-mails to legislators in which they pretend to care about me or demonstrate outside my hospital with their bleeding Jesuses and sandwiches with Mary's face on them. I don't know these people, and I certainly haven't authorized them to preach and crusade on my behalf. And the Pope should mind his own friggin' business, too.

And if any of my family goes against my wishes and tries to turn my case into a political cause, I hereby promise to come back from the grave and make his or her existence a living hell.

______________________________________
Signature

______________________________________
Witness

[PA Democrat]

7. I'm jealous

I trust my husband completely, but my parents would be like the Schiavos. They said as much this past weekend, and thus the reason that I have a living will. I have informed them that I have a living will and that I expect them to respect my wishes.

My parents watch Pat Robertson, Bill O'Reilly, and every right wing wackadoo on TV. I have nightmares about the bitter battle that would ensue if I were in Terry Schiavo's condition without a living will.

[NNN0LHI]

19. If there is a big blow up chances are you ain't going to know it anyway

Good luck.

Don

[Lindacooks]

27. This isn't all about you.

This is about preventing strife, legal battles, and long drawn out arguments among your family members too.

[NNN0LHI]

29. If they want to act like assholes fine. Who cares?

Lets don't let anyone die anymore. Hook everyone up forever. Why should I care? I won't know about it anyway.

Don

[PA Democrat]

32. My husband and kids don't deserve the grief they would put them through

And that's what I hope to prevent. My values are drastically different from those of my parents. I chose my husband because of his values (among other things!) and I wouldn't want to open the door for my husband to be persecuted like Michael Schiavo has been, simply for respecting my wishes.

I think that everyone should have a very frank discussion with their families on this topic. If you leave it to chance, or make incorrect assumptions, you may be subjecting your spouse or kids to a very unpleasant situation.

[NNN0LHI]

35. If your spouse and kids put themselves in that very unpleasant situation..

...because they can't come to a civil agreement between themselves that is their problem. Not yours. Don't you see that?

Don

[PA Democrat]

36. Sorry if I didn't make it clear.

The problem would not be between my husband and children. It would be with my parents who would try to interject their extreme belief system into the situation just as Terri Schiavo's parents have (they actually said they would be doing everything the Schiavo's are doing). That is why I have a living will that spells out what my wishes are and who has the authority to make medical decisions if I am not able to do so.

[NNN0LHI]

37. If they were to become that uncivilized with one another they deserve it

But that is not going to happen. The Schiavo case is one a million. Think about it. You need to give your family members more credit than that. Chances are they will see the writing on the wall and come to the correct decision. And don't forget. You may outlive all of them. My suggestion would be not to lose no sleep over the type of scenario you are describing. You can't plan ahead for everything. You will drive yourself nuts trying to. Enjoy your life while you are still able and forget these worst case scenarios. Thats what I am doing.

Don

[thinkingwoman]

24. my in-laws

would be just like the Schiavos! My husband was talking to them last week, explaining his wishes and the fact that he and I have talked it over in detail with each other, and they went on and on about how immoral it was to remove a feeding tube!!

AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!

Pardon me.

Hubby and I are drawing up living wills and powers of attorney right away!

Crazy fundies!

[NNN0LHI]

33. So they kept you alive for a few decades? What does it hurt?

Chances are you wouldn't know it. Hell you might outlive them on life support and really show em. Wouldn't that be a hoot?

Don

[thinkingwoman]

38. they couldn't keep me alive

they're my inlaws. They could fight with me over decisions about my husband if goddessforbid something happened to him.

The harm is in allowing other people, and the government, to violate our rights to determine our own destinies, and make our own decisions.

[Frances]

8. The living will

is for the time when you can't make the decision for yourself, just as Terri Shiavo couldn't.

Have you told your family what you want? Are they in agreement among themselves about your wishes?

[NNN0LHI]

16. Yes and yes Frances. See ya later and good luck to you and yours n/t

[BOSSHOG]

9. I've had one for many years

The Navy provided legal and spiritual counseling prior to deployment to a combat zone. My wife has my DNR and living will. I DO NOT want her to suffer financiallly if anything were to happen to me. Don't hook me up to any damn machine. And I want my funeral to be a party and celebration about my life. Cremate me and put part of my ashes on a bar in Bourbon Street. (There are several cremation urns on bars on Bourbon Street, the locals want their remains to remain there.) Hopefully I'll die in the springtime so those "grieving" can have a big old Crawfish boil and a keg of budweiser by the Bayou in my honor.

As for conservatives. Every one of them should have a written order to keep them hooked up to life support for ever and ever until every penny of their families finances are gone. Any other request by them would be nothing but hypocrisy.

[Liberal Veteran]

10. Probably as important as a living will....

...is a durable medical power of attorney.

Giving someone that right makes it clear and LEGAL that you want a specific person to speak for you if you become incapacitated.

[tubbacheez]

13. In a durable power of attorney document, can I designate...

... that a Magic 8-Ball speak on my behalf?

[Bridget Burke]

11. DNR doesn't belong in most living wills.

For people in decent health, resuscitation should remain an option after an accident or sudden health "incident." Only those in end-stage disease--who have usually already undergone pretty intense medical treatment--may wish to become "DNR". Otherwise, let medical science do what it can.

After the emergency passes is when the time for decisions come. And when the strain on the family becomes greater. Of course, all of your relatives may be united in a desire to bid you adieu ASAP. Good luck to you!

[WillowTree]

14. Ah, but the best way to assure...

....that images of you in a drooling, semi-conscious state don't show up on CNN and MSNBC (or, God forbid, Fox!) is to have a living will or advance directive stating what you want so that your family doesn't wind up in a court battle over what to do with you if and when the time comes. If Terri Schiavo had had one, chances are better than not that we wouldn't be witnessing the media circus that's been going on for the last two or three weeks.

And please don't allow yourself to be lulled into believing that things couldn't blow up in your family the way the way they have in Terri's. I'm sure that none of them would have believed beforehand that this could have happened and I'm surer still that if my parents had had the slightest clue that my sister and brothers would have gotten into a nuclear family feud over the house and the money, they would have set-up their wills much differently. Death and near-death bring out all kinds of unanticipated emotional brouhahas amongst people who are otherwise perfectly sane and logical.

Your choice, though. It's one of those things that only we can decide for ourselves.

[amazona]

17. this whole living will hype

Is an extortion plan aimed at enhancing the profits of lawyers. If you can't trust your family, any will or living will you make can and will be contested. Been there, done that, don't feel like getting the T shirt. If I really thought the living will offered some real protection against a family fight being encouraged by money-seeking lawyers and nursing homes, I might feel differently. But our society has a vested interest in creating conflict. People buying wills and living wills and then other people fighting to break them may enhance the Gross National Product, but I'm not sure it would keep the respirator out of my nose. :-(

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[NNN0LHI]

20. It saves the insurance companies BIG money too

They are just creaming their jeans having this fiasco scaring everyone enough to head for the lawyer. Fuck them. Let them pay for me to lay in a hospital for 50 years. I don't care. Nothing would make me happier than to see them pay out a few millions of dollars to keep me alive. Thats right. Maybe they will be doing brain transplants by then? If they are I want one.

Don

[Walt Starr]

18. What state are you in?

In some states, if they choose to allow the tube, respirator, etc. to go in and you have nothing in your living will, they cannot take it out later.

[NNN0LHI]

21. Illinois.That is fine with me Walt. I won't know it anyway. See ya later

[amazona]

25. as far as Florida my family has some experience

Without getting into it, Walt, let me assure you that in the state of Florida at least, even if Terri Schiavo had had a living will, any piece of paper that one lawyer can create, another lawyer can contest.

I'm aware of problems in my state, Louisiana, also.

It's a lot of money to spend for something that may or may not be enforceable in accord with my wishes.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Walt Starr]

28. I don't have to spend a dime on mine

My wife is an attorney.

[Media_Lies_Daily]

26. What happens if one or more of your family decide that they want.....

...to keep your body alive, even though the essence of you as a human being has departed? People have been known to change their minds when the moment of truth arrives...do you have any other fallback mechanism that will safeguard your wishes?

[hippiegranny]

31. As a lesbian,

I have already had to face these issues long before the Schiavo circus brought them to the forefront. My parents and my life partner get along great, she is accepted by them and they understand she will be the primary decision maker in the case that I cannot make my own.

That is all well and fine when it is but a vague unlikelihood that the three of them will find themselves in that situation. If something should ever happen, however, I'm feeling like all bets are off. Even the coolest, most liberal people get weirded out when these things happen, and I suspect my family could be no exception.

I have a living will, powers of attorney, a last will and a domestic partnership agreement. I need as much protection as I can get.

[NNN0LHI]

34. Protection from what though?

From being kept alive? You won't know if you are alive or dead if you were in Mrs. Schiavo's shape.

Don

[stubertmcfly]

41. it seems to me...

... that you continually focus on whether or not YOU know what is going on. that is all fair and good but what happens to those around you is also a concern. if you don't have a living will, then the government seems to be able to manipulate the situation. shiavo's husband indicated what she told him she wanted and that was not good enough. 15 years of sufferring. 7 years of legal wrangling. untold monitary and emotional costs. yup, you are correct that shiavo herself had no knowledge of any of this. but if she had a living will that specified her wishes, none of this would have been an issue.

think of all the money wasted on this. think of how many people that could have helped around the world. it doesn't really matter which side of the issue you are on: wanting to be kept alive or wanting a DNR. without a will, the potential legal costs are huge.

ultimately this is all about you and your right to life/death. but others are involved. if none of this shiavo stuff had been an issue, we could have focused our attention on delay's ethical problems, the genocide in rwanda, cleaning up drinking water, slaying bush's idiotic social security plans, etc. etc. etc.

[stubertmcfly]

42. whoops...

....i meant "sudan" not "rwanda"

[amazona]

44. the legal costs are huge anyway

The media is lying about this. I have experience with this. In Florida. It wouldn't make a dime's worth of difference if Schiavo had had a living will, except to waste another $750 to the lawyers. If someone wants to contest your wishes and you are incompetent, it is a feeding frenzy.

I too would love to believe in the fantasy that a will/living will can be purchased for a thousand dollars or so and my directives followed.

Reality is otherwise.

If anyone wants to dispute your will or living will, and they can afford an attorney, or the estate has any assets, there will be a dispute.

Extra paperwork guarantees nothing.

If you want to be sure of not being kept "alive" on machines, be a pauper.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[NNN0LHI]

45. If you want to be sure of not being kept "alive" on machines, be a pauper.

Yep, you are right. That is why my plan is to be worth more alive than dead. My family will continue receiving my retirement pension as long as I am not dead. I suspect that alone may be enough to encourage them to follow my wishes and keep me alive as long as possible.

Don