Schiavo Case Brings Living Wills Into Spotlight
Documents Can Formally Let Others Know Your Wishes
POSTED: Monday, March 21, 2005
Terri Schiavo didn't have a living will. But because of her, thousands of other Americans are signing them.Attorneys and organizations that promote living wills and advance directives say the bitter legal battle in Schiavo's case has led many people to put their end-of-life wishes in writing.A Florida agency called Aging with Dignity has created the living will known as "Five Wishes." It has been sending out 2,000 copies a day.Living wills communicate patients' wishes on medical treatments if they become terminally ill or incapacitated. An advance directive is a living will that includes the designation of a medical surrogate to carry out the expressed wishes.But having a signed document doesn't necessarily mean there won't be a court fight. The question of whether someone has any hope for recovery sometimes isn't clear-cut and can lead to disagreement among family members.Pennsylvania Attorney Barbara Dillon told Lancaster, Pa., television station WGAL that it is important to discuss your living will wishes."The communications aspect is most important thing -- that you are letting your family know ahead of time, letting physician know ahead of time what your wishes are," Dillon said.She advises people to keep one signed copy of a living and giving others to immediate family, doctors and the surrogate named in the document.
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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