Sir/ Ma'am;
I went to the site recommended by the state of Florida for Living Wills. But I noticed that the Living Will sited there states only that no extra efforts be made to preserve or prolong life. What if a person wants life prolonging efforts?
I have heard many people say that this issue about Terri Schiavo could have been avoided if she had filled out a Living Will. But if she didn't want medical care DIScontinued, why would she have filled out a Living Will form?
There seems to be a catch 22. Terri didn't fill out a Living Will because she didn't want her medical treatment discontinued. Yet, because she didn't fill out a Living Will, the state assumes she doesn't want life support.
Is there a recommended form for residents of Florida to fill out to state that they DO want medical treatment continued?
I'm trying to be polite. Am I wasting time with them?
Great post and points.
I'd love to see you forward the url to the site and your e-mail to Sean Hannity and all the rest.
It raises some interesting questions.
Here is the problem--Florida Statute 765 makes up your mind for you in case you forgot:
765.401 The proxy.--
(1) If an incapacitated or developmentally disabled patient has not executed an advance directive, or designated a surrogate to execute an advance directive, or the designated or alternate surrogate is no longer available to make health care decisions, health care decisions may be made for the patient by any of the following individuals, in the following order of priority, if no individual in a prior class is reasonably available, willing, or competent to act:
(a) The judicially appointed guardian of the patient or the guardian advocate of the person having a developmental disability as defined in s. 393.063, who has been authorized to consent to medical treatment, if such guardian has previously been appointed; however, this paragraph shall not be construed to require such appointment before a treatment decision can be made under this subsection;
(b) The patient's spouse;