I know of no other term that pops up automatically so often as the subject of living wills as it links to Terri's Legacy. Useful or useless as they may be in their many incarnations for both the patients and for those who would use the words against them, their tie to Terri's Legacy is secure.
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37% of people in the U.S. now have a living will. Officials say it's never too early to start talking about it.
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Reporter's Notes by Jake Wasikowski:
- Lawyers say most living will are written when an estate will is documented.
- But if you can't get anything written down, you should at least have that conversation with family members so they understand your wishes.
- Before the Terri Schiavo case 20% of Americans had living wills so there's been a 17% increase in the past few years.
Death & Dying: Living Wills
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And barring the above on living wills, may we not forget how Pennsylvania is "helping" things along like it or not.
While end-of-life care is not a pressing issue for most Penn State students, a new Pennsylvania law on living wills will affect anyone who is suddenly unable to make life decisions.
According to www.aging.state. pa.us, family and friends have traditionally made end-of-life decisions for those unable to make their own, but on no legal basis.
Under the new law, end-of-life and healthcare decisions will be made in a specific order -- spouse, adult child, parent, adult sibling, adult grandchild or close friend -- for those without a living will.
New law grants spouses priority
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