Living Wills

[Romans922]

So my wife and I are making our living wills, and my lawyer has this in the language,

"If at any time I should have an incurable injury, disease, or illness certified to be a terminal condition by two physicians who have personally examined me, one of whom shall be my attending physician, and the physicians have determined that my death will occur whether or not life-sustaining procedures are utilized and where the application of life-sustaining procedures would serve only to artificially prolong the dying process, I direct that such procedures be withheld or withdrawn, and that I be permitted to die naturally with only the administration of medication or the performance of any medical procedure deemed necessary to provide me with comfort and care."

I've highlighted the part I am concerned with. While comfort and care are great, from my understanding such medication makes the patient not have a logical mind/reasoning (if possible given current body condition).

I see great biblical concern in choosing comfort over a reasoning mind. Thoughts?

 

[Ed Walsh]

I see great biblical concern in choosing comfort over a reasoning mind. Thoughts?

There is, and I can tell you from experience, such a thing as being out of your mind with pain. In such cases, some morphine or oxycodone might make the difference between a reasoning mind and insanity.

Ed

PS - As long as you have a "logical mind/reasoning" ability you can choose not to have the mind-dulling drugs. Just a thought...

 

[Edward]

I'll take palliative care over dying in agony. I'd be interested in seeing your scriptural basis for rejecting that position.

But I really think you are focusing on the wrong clause.

"If at any time I should have an incurable injury, disease, or illness certified to be a terminal condition by two physicians who have personally examined me, one of whom shall be my attending physician, and the physicians have determined that my death will occur whether or not life-sustaining procedures are utilized and where the application of life-sustaining procedures would serve only to artificially prolong the dying process

One can have a terminal condition that can last for years with proper treatment and management. My biggest concern, given the current trends in this country, is that such a clause might be used to justify involuntary euthanasia as we are already seeing in other 'civilized' countries. But the whole concept needs to be tested against our confessional standards. Most specifically, "the neglecting or withdrawing the lawful and necessary means of preservation of life."

 

[Von]

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts. Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
(Proverbs 31:6-7)
I would say there is a Biblical place for palliative care.

 

[Pergamum]

Ditto on Proverbs. Palliative care is permissible even if it clouds the mind.

On the other hand, "extraordinary measures" are not all that extraordinary anymore and some living wills have been used to deny food and oxygen to patients.

 

[jwithnell]

Having worked under the advanced directives for my father recently, I understand this is a difficult topic.


1. Make sure you know the person's wishes and make your own known long before having to make decisions. I knew unequivocally my Dad didn't want to live on devices. I also made clear my positition that as a believer, I would not condone taking life but that I did not want to prolong death.

2. Don't expect a clear-cut situation. Doctors will have differing opinions. I relied most heavily on one from the pallative care unit rather than the specialist.

3. As a believer, one of your strongest protections in this situation is to make sure your pastor or proxy is involved in the decision. Given the secular view of life and man, you do not want to give doctors the final say, although two doctors is the standard language in end-of-life documents.

4. In many, if not most cases, the doctors will ask the next of kin what to do.

5. Know your family members' opinion on the matter. If someone differs from you philosophically, make sure you let the person you've named to make the decision (likely your spouse) know he or she has your support to make the decision, even if others disagree.

5. States differ on these issues. Many now use advanced directives rather than living wills. I was grateful to have the current Georgia language in my Dad's documents. Stay up to date.

6. Soberly consider that "right to die" laws in some states are morphing into "obligation to die" perspectives. Worst case situation: some states may force you to go with the doctor's decision.