After all the hoopla with Terry Shiavo I am curious about people's attitude towards living wills or family directives.

I am too young to be looking into my demise. I have other things to worry about then dying. Trying to live life and make the best out of it. And Terri Schiavo was a special case, I doubt something like that will happen to me, but you never know...

Originally posted by DracRomin
I am too young to be looking into my demise. I have other things to worry about then dying. Trying to live life and make the best out of it. And Terri Schiavo was a special case, I doubt something like that will happen to me, but you never know...

and one day you might be in an auto accident, a drunk driver smashing into you, you are hovering over your body looking at the wreck knowing that there is no way to come back, and you are thinking, pull the fucking plug!!!!! but they won't without a court order.
that's why i also carry a do not resucitate card.

I already had a good talk with my wife and my parents (well they knew already but I also said to my wife what I want if something happens).
It is funny, my wife and I have very different opinions about the subject but we have agreed to honour each other wishes.

I agree with Drac. Would rather not be so prepared - leave it to my parents and/or significant other to decide.

I have my son to consider. I also have this to consider. My best friend's brother was in a car accident. A semi hit him. They didn't expect him to make it to the hospital. Then they didn't expect him to make the life flight to the bigger hospital. "Then he wouldn't make it through the night" "He'll never wake up" "He'll never talk again" "He'll never walk again" Donny beat all of those odds. With as much bran damage that he suffered he should be a drooling lifeless empty body. The nurses called him Hudini(spelling) because even after tying him to the bed he was able to make it down the hall, even though he couldn't walk yet. A doctor actually told his mother "In all honesty, if he had been an organ donor I don't think we would have tried so hard" I am still an organ donor after all this. But it shows that Doctors can be proven wrong. And I want a chance to see my son grow up. So yes, do all you can. If I am still aware of my surroundings and know who my son it keep me alive.

Originally posted by ivan
that's why i also carry a do not resucitate card.

Yeah that's the next thing I am going to be looking into. Carrying a card for that. I am also an organ donor so they might not try too hard to resuscitate if I were brain dead if they could harvest organs.

Here in Canada apparently one's power of attorney appointee can over- ride the living will decision. That freaked me a bit.

Originally posted by cheerios
Donny beat all of those odds. With as much bran damage that he suffered he should be a drooling lifeless empty body. The nurses called him Hudini(spelling) because even after tying him to the bed he was able to make it down the hall, even though he couldn't walk yet. A doctor actually told his mother "In all honesty, if he had been an organ donor I don't think we would have tried so hard" I am still an organ donor after all this. But it shows that Doctors can be proven wrong. And I want a chance to see my son grow up. So yes, do all you can. If I am still aware of my surroundings and know who my son it keep me alive.

Yeah docotrs can be wrong and therein lies the problem. Mistakes can be made and some people do beat all odds...not many though.

I can see how having a young child would change ones slant. I can also see how being in one's 20's would change one's outlook also. Keeping someone alive on life support when they are in their 20's for a decade thinking medical research could perhaps eventually reverse things is a possiblity. But when one is already in their late 40's or 50's or older why get brought around only to get shipped over to the old age home?

Originally posted by DracRomin
I am too young to be looking into my demise. I have other things to worry about then dying. Trying to live life and make the best out of it. And Terri Schiavo was a special case, I doubt something like that will happen to me, but you never know...

Yeah I really wasn't into doing anything about it until I hit 40. After the Terri Shiavo thing though, I might have done it younger if something like this had happened.

I have had a living will for a long time. I carry a card that says do not resusitate and I am an organ donor. I also have a regular will and insisted upon pre nuptual agreements.

Never, ever, ever allow someone to control your life, your fortune or your demise.

Always, always, always count on the "do-gooders" to have no respect for your individual wishes. Everything revolves around their superstitions, greed and sky fairies.

Originally posted by Teddy
I already had a good talk with my wife and my parents (well they knew already but I also said to my wife what I want if something happens).
It is funny, my wife and I have very different opinions about the subject but we have agreed to honour each other wishes.

Yeah my current appointed custodian and I have very different views too. I never worried about it before... I will be having a trip to my lawyers shortly to alter things.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Echo2
Always, always, always count on the "do-gooders" to have no respect for your individual wishes. Everything revolves around their superstitions, greed and sky fairies. [/QUOTE

Yeah I was just recently awakened to this by the whole Schiavo affair. I am not worried about the greed thing but her religious convictions would interfer. My current partner although a fundamentalist would have no such problem. His wishes and mine are almost the same despite the difference in faith beliefs.

I just never thought to change her name until now. We have been friends for so long I just thought she would follow my wishes. Now I know it would cause a conflict for her.

Originally posted by box19
I agree with Drac. Would rather not be so prepared - leave it to my parents and/or significant other to decide.

That can be rough on your family though box...