Recently, I reviewed our wills that we had written years ago. Our kids have moved out and we are fifteen years older than when we
wrote them. Our wills also include health care directives. I was intrigued
rereading what I wrote so long ago. I stand by it still and here I share with
you its key elements (with a few insignificant edits). I suggest you have one
done and file it with your primary health care facility.
“Whenever I am unable to decide or speak for myself, my health
care agent has the power to make any and all health care decisions for me,
including the power to give, refuse or withdraw consent to any care, treatment,
service or procedures, including deciding whether to stop or not start health
care that is keeping me or might keep me alive.

“I have little tolerance for pain and do not want it, whether
physical or emotional. An example of emotional pain would include consciousness
but inability to communicate or move. Another would be living permanently in a
group facility such as a nursing home.
“I do not believe that allowing death by omission is wrong. You
are free to let me die or even help me die if that is appropriate.
“My life would no longer be worth living if I were an emotional or
financial drain on my wife, children or society; if I could not live a
reasonably productive life; if I could not basically take care of myself; if I
were to spend the remainder of my life in a nursing facility; or if I were
unconscious with little expectation of returning to a somewhat productive life.
“Standard medical treatments may be used to try to improve my
medical condition or to prolong my life but they should be stopped if they do
not help.
“If I had a reasonable chance of recovery where I return to being
a somewhat normal and productive person, I would want reasonable efforts made
to recover me. But if recovery means, for example, permanent blindness, loss of
arms, permanent pain and other major disabilities, I do not want efforts made
to prolong my life.
“If I were dying, I would want all efforts made to minimize pain
and no efforts made to prolong my life. If I were permanently unconscious or
otherwise completely dependent on others for my care, I would want to die as
soon as possible.”
“I would like to die at home. I remember when our dog, Sam, was
dying. Rather than putting him alone into a sterile medical facility full of
tubes in an effort to extend his life a few days or weeks or months, he laid in
the family room with us until he couldn’t eat or drink. Then we brought him to
the vet where he was euthanized while my wife held him. I only wish that you
treat me as well as she treated Sam.”
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