[ND4SPD]

If someone has a living will and it says that should the person be involved in a tragic accident where paralysis or a coma becomes an issue, do you think it's ethical for the person to choose to be "let go"?

This has always been a question in my mind. Why? I have no idea. I don't have a living will, nor do I plan to have one at this point

[MACI4LIFE]

I think we all have a living will, but we all have a point where something so debilitating would restrain ones free spirit enough that we just don't enjoy life anymore to a point where the living will would be weakened. Makes sense??

[HondaGalToo]

Yes. I'm not sure if paralysis alone counts, as the person may be completely coherent. I think that's more for if someone is in a coma, and is only alive because they are on life-support machines. It gives them the right to have the "plug pulled". This is a right in NJ that came about many years ago from the Karen Ann Quinlan case.

[zenblader]

Originally Posted by ND4SPD

If someone has a living will and it says that should the person be involved in a tragic accident where paralysis or a coma becomes an issue, do you think it's ethical for the person to choose to be "let go"?

This has always been a question in my mind. Why? I have no idea. I don't have a living will, nor do I plan to have one at this point

ND,

This became a very real issue two years ago with my wife's father. He thought he had a simple case of pneumonia, but it turned out to be something much worse and quickly fatal. He had not prepared a certified will or power of attorney for one of his kids. This was a nightmare as his condition went so quickly from mild discomfort to total incapacitation and death. We scrambled to accomplish a power of attorney transfer which included having to get a notary into the hospital room to witness the transfer. Dad was barely able to speak and would go on the ventilator within minutes. It was very stressful for him and for us to have to worry about all that stuff when we should have just been praying for and comforting him. Just a few days later, when the doctors said he would never be able to breathe, eat, or do anything on his own again, we and his other kids struggled with the decision to turn off the ventilator. He was heavily sedated due to the stress and pain. Each time he would come close to consciousness he would attempt to pull all the tubing from his throat and mouth. He was struggling so. It just made us sick. The decision was taken from us a few nights later when he finally made peace with his past and his future, and died quietly in the early morning hours.
It is very important for everyone to have a written and in most cases certified living will. Check State requirements cuz they do vary. Especially for the sake of those who love you and will be there agonizing over a decision that can be handled ahead of time. Just sayin...