As people are now living longer than in past years, and
often times require more long term care, and are more likely at some point to suffer
from either cancer, dementia or Alzheimer's, advanced directives have taken on a new
urgency for most people. The case of Terri Schiavo in Florida several years ago also
underscored the point for many Americans about how they didn't want to die in a similar
manner.
A health-care proxy places your decisions about
your health care in the hands of a family member or someone you trust. It gives them
legal permission, and waives from them legal consequence, to make decisions regarding
your treatment and care after you are no longer able to decide such matters for
yourself. This would include whether to continue chemo or IV's to a terminal cancer
patient, or whether to give a Do Not Resuscitate order, or whether or not to disconnect
from life support machines.
A Living Will, on the other
hand, means you have made your own decisions about such situations ahead of time, and
have legally notarized such decisions in writing so that no one needs to be faced with
the burden of making such difficult decisions for you. This is generally more common
than power of attorney.
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