On Friday afternoon, Strong Memorial Hospital removed
Dorothy Livadas' life support not only without the consent of Dorothy's duly appointed health care agent but also over the agent's vociferous objections. The agent, Dorothy's daughter Ianthe, had been replaced with Catholic Family Center. As the new substitute decision maker, CFC authorized the removal of life support.
Yesterday, on a plane from Albuquerque, I read a long post (14 single-spaced pages) that Ianthe had placed in the comments field of this blog. I agree that there is a significant likelihood that the living will did not reflect Dorothy's wishes. There is a significant probability that many living wills fails to reflect the wishes of their makers. But they are presumed to constitute "clear and convincing evidence." Ianthe's evidence about the rushed making of the living will was just not sufficient to overcome the presumption.
Like Schiavo, the case did not address end-of-life decision making principles. It was just a dispute about the condition of the patient and the evidence of the patient's wishes. On the other hand, it does indicate a clear trend of courts replacing surrogates who act contrary to either the wishes or best interests of the patient.
Why we must be vigilant and must persevere...
What could be safer in these days after the Terri episode shook us all to the quick? Just get a living will and all will be safe. Well this is unfolding right now! Not only that, it is a group that calls itself "Catholic" doing the devil's deed. Thanks, Leslie.
It is like Nancy Legosi calling herself "Catholic".
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Dorothy Livadas -- Life Support Removed Over Proxy's Objections
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