An article published in the New York Times this week by Pauline W. Chen, M.D. provided some very interesting information about the benefits of frank discussions about death and dying between a patient with a terminal illness and their physician.
Many of us have learned of the consequences of failing to plan from Terry Schaivo, the woman in Florida who was the subject of years of court battles. Unfortunately, many still have not learned and are in similar circumstances today. You may have heard of another woman in Florida whose parents are now fighting over who has the right to make end of life decisions for her.
As medical technology has advanced over the years we have seen both its blessings and its curses. Opinion as to whether life should be sustained regardless of the circumstances varies widely. Due to these differences of opinion, lawmakers have sought to place that choice solely in the hands of those who are best prepared to make those choices: each of us, individually.
You have decided to follow your Physician’s advice and complete your Health Care Directive thus providing a clear understanding of your wishes as they relate to life sustaining measures. You understand the significance of having a Health Care Directive, but as you research the process you are confronted with a lack of understanding regarding what life sustaining measures encompass.
In January of 2008, a new law in Utah entitled the "Advance Health Care Directive Act" ("UAHCDA") replaced the somewhat less useful "Personal Choice and Living Will Act." The purposes of both of these acts was to make it easier for individuals to control the decision-making process related to their health care if they ever became unable to make such decisions for themselves d
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As medical technology has advanced over the years we have seen both its blessings and its curses. Opinion as to whether life should be sustained regardless of the circumstances varies widely. Due to these differences of opinion, lawmakers have sought to place that choice solely in the hands of those who are best prepared to make those choices: each of us, individually.
You have decided to follow your Physician’s advice and complete your Health Care Directive thus providing a clear understanding of your wishes as they relate to life sustaining measures. You understand the significance of having a Health Care Directive, but as you research the process you are confronted with a lack of understanding regarding what life sustaining measures encompass.
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