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The Will to Die
By Karen Hube, July & August 2005
His family disagrees about end-of-life care. How can he make sure he won’t be the next Terri Schiavo?
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Brian Linten, 66, of Austin, Texas, who suffers from Lou Gehrig's
disease, has a living will, an official document that details what kind of
medical treatment he wants—and doesn't want—should he become
unable to communicate. But when he and his family were discussing the recent
Terri Schiavo case—in which a brain-damaged woman's family members
disagreed over whether to detach her feeding tube—his son declared that
he could never stand by and watch his father die if there was a way to keep him
alive. That got Brian to thinking: is there any way he can make sure his living
will will be honored?
 
Brian is smart to ask that question. "A lot of living wills don't
work because people don't formulate well-thought-out wishes," says
Carl Schneider, a law professor and bioethics specialist at the University of
Michigan. They also don't write them down clearly or anticipate how
complicated a situation can become, he adds. No living will is ironclad, but
here's what you can do to be (reasonably) confident that your doctor,
friends, and family will honor your last wishes.
Make a Record
Write down in clear language exactly what kinds of medical treatment you
want or don't want, so there is no room for misinterpretation, says Paul
Malley, president of Aging With
Dignity (888-594-7437), a nonprofit group that helps families with
end-of-life issues. Many living wills use the term "life-support
treatments" without detail. "Life support could include everything
from a respirator to artificial nutrition and hydration," Malley says.
"Be specific." A living will should also address whether or not you
would like to receive pain medication.
Appoint a Guardian Angel
You'll need a health-care agent, who will be legally responsible for
carrying out your wishes. Choose a family member or friend you trust, as well
as a backup agent in case your first choice dies before you do. Make sure the
people you choose are well-informed about your wishes and strong-willed enough
to carry them out in the face of opposition from family members. To ensure that
your agent has legal authority to make decisions on your behalf, fill out a
form for durable power of attorney for health care, which you can get through
your doctor's office or a hospital.
Speak Up
Discuss your wishes with your family and close friends and also give them
(and your health-care agent) copies of your living will. That way they know you
have thought about this lucidly, in advance of any physical or mental
decline.
Follow the Rules
In many states, the living will and durable power of attorney for health
care—known as "advance directives"—are combined in one
form. Almost every state has suggested forms to use that you can get through
your doctor's office or local hospital. You can also download free
state-specific forms from Caring
Connections (800-658-8898). And the AARP Foundation offers free booklets titled
"Planning for Incapacity," which are tailored to each state and
include all necessary forms. Call 202-434-2118 for more information.
Karen Hube is a financial reporter in Westport, Connecticut.
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