Who Can Really Say?

What's the Use of a Living Will

We've heard lot's about living wills in the last 2 weeks. A number of times I've heard that if Terri Schiavo'd had a living will none of this would have happened. I'm not so sure of that, given that the Scindler's deny she's actually in a persistent vegitative state. The living will probably would have said something like "If I'm in a persistent vegitative state, you can 'pull the plug'", but who can doubt at this point that the Schiavo's wouldn't have tried to prevent it in court anyway?

We've also heard that Terri Schiavo wouldn't have wanted to live like this, and that she'd have wanted the feeding tube disconnected. That's what the courts have found, anyway. But is that really why we should each have a living will -- to make the decision now when we can, instead of waiting until we can't?

That's not why I'll sign one. Here's how I think about it. Consider this -- I am "brain dead" -- is there some reason why I should care what happens to me when I'm brain dead, or for that matter, really really dead? We act as though there is, and indeed I suppose in a sense there is a reason why we care. Do we want a large or small funeral? Want to be embalmed? Cremated? Any special music to play at the gravesite? What should be done with the ashes? What should the monument look like? Many folks work this stuff out well in advance all the time and if they are smart, they do it with the assistance and cooperation of the other folks who are going to actually have to make it all happen. But when you're gone, you're gone -- these choices are only carried out with the assistance and love of those left behind and ultimately, whatever solace you take from making your own preparations is of no consequence to you once it's time to actually put them into action.

And so in the case of a living will -- what's the point? What if I don't want to remain connected to life support and that's what happens to me anyway. Do I care? How so? The only reason why the law permits me to be disconnected in certain circumstances in the first place is because I don't care, because I can't care.

No -- the reason to sign a living will is to make the job of those who are left taking care of you all the easier. There are many rotten things in this world and one of them is visiting your brother, sister, mother, father, wife, child, friend, etc. who is wasting away, oblivious to the world, on a feeding tube or ventilator. We feel for those lying in the bed and that's only natural. And so if we care about those who one day might be visiting us in that state, writing a living will is a way to make it easier for them. It's not about what you want for yourself so much as it's about what you would want for them if worse comes to worse and they find themselves caring for you.

Maybe I'm just too practical about this, but when push comes to shove and pulling the plug is a question, it seems to me that living wills aren't much good to the person who signs them, and are a great favor to those making the call.

[Linked to the Beltway Traffic Jam.]

Posted by Peter at March 28, 2005 09:42 PM