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April 2, 2005

I have one, do you?

A living will, I mean. These last month(s) between Terry Shiavo's and the Pope's situation have reminded me just how important it is to let the ones we love KNOW what we desire. As I was moving to Sicily, I had a living will done - nothing fancy. I had it notarized and witnessed. A lot of good it will do any of us if we don't let those around us know what is important when things look grim though. We will never ever know what Terry Shiavo really and truly wanted. I have no intention on making a political statement here. My point is that if you don't want to find yourself in the Shiavo/Schindler family situtation, we all NEED to tell each other what we want at the end of our lives.

Speaking only for myself, I do not want extraordinary measures such as a ventilator or CPR or medications to keep my body going if it is apparent that there is little to no hope of recovery. The harder question is the one of feeding tubes and IV hydration. For me, I don't think that counts as extraordinary. I do believe in assisted suicide (sorry if that offends anyone) and think that is much more humane than 14 days of starvation. What I really hope is that none of my family nor I are ever put in a situation where we have to make such horrible decisions.

So please, despite the morbid nature of the task, go make or review your living will and then tell your loved ones what it contains.

Posted by DebC at April 2, 2005 8:22 PM

Comments

Posted by: Kim at April 6, 2005 7:36 PM