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The tragedy of the Terri
Schiavo case could have been avoided if she had prepared an Advanced
Medical Directive expressing her wishes if she were left in a persistent
vegetative state. Instead, there were years of court battles, endless
publicity, and family strife. Terri was kept alive by a feeding tube for
more than 15 years.
Surveys indicate that the majority of adults, like Terri Schiavo, do not
have an Advanced Medical Directive (Health Care Power of Attorney or
Living Will). They too risk leaving family members fighting about
appropriate medical care or, worse, receiving care contrary to what they
would have wanted. The
Hugh Finn case (VA) and Ronald Mack case (MD) demonstrate that this is
not an isolated incident.
It is important to communicate with your loved ones about health care
issues, preferably through a proper Health Care Power of Attorney.
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