Reply #159: OK.... [View All]

[DoNotRefill]

"- someone in perfect health couldn't possibly know what their true feelings on the matter would be once they are incapacitated, so the living will is not really valid."

With this situation, what you have to go on is the written wishes of the person "at risk". It's just like a will...they may have changed their mind at a later date, but if it hasn't been retracted in writing, their last written statement is what we've got to go on.

"- a living will that says "do not using feeding tubes, ventilators, etc on me" amounts to a suicide note, so it is not really valid."

Suicide is legal in most places. And there's an almost absolute right for an adult to refuse unwanted medical treatment.

I've never heard of a living will being thrown out on either of these legal theories. Challenged? Yes, but unsuccessfully.