From LifeSite
A pro-life nurse representing a leading organization of medical professionals that opposes abortion says pro-life advocates should be on guard for problems involved with living wills. Since the euthanasia death of Terri Schiavo in March, more attention has been focused on the documents.Deborah Sturm, a registered nurse and member of National Association of Pro-Life Nurses, discussed living wills and advanced directives at the recent meeting of the Society of Catholic Social Scientists at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
"The standard living-will documents that are advocated by those who support euthanasia have a general presumption for death," Sturm told Zenit news service. "The language is often ambiguous and can be interpreted by a health-care provider in a variety of ways that a patient did not intend."
Continued at Marlowe's Shade
Living wills and advance directives are a real problem. My Dad who had a lifelong documented mental health disability for which he received a pension was allowed to put a "Do Not Resuscitate" on Mom upon admission to a Decatur, Il nursing home. He was critical and wanted to live. He had encouragement....this is about estate conservation. In addition, he signed an "informed consent" for an anti-psychotic and family,(wasn't me, I am the only child) wanted her to have the right to "refuse to eat".
Eugenics is alive and working in these United States. In five weeks, Mom lost 20# and all abilities. She couldn't testify at her own guardianship hearing. The state gave her to a half-aunt who I hadn't seen in 46years.
The use of advance directives is being stretched to the limit. Mom ate breakfast out daily prior to admission for early stage dementia. She entered the home walking, talking, eating and going to the bathroom by herself.
Five weeks later she was a vegetable. People can use this practice to benefit from an estate and that is exactly what happened here.
Beware the vulnerable and elderly are at risk. Life has less value than money.
Sorry about your Mom, Paul.
Hopefully her story will be a caution to others.