Terri Schiavos Gift

For the past few weeks, we have witnessed painful lessons wewould prefer to ignore. Death is a part of life. Tragicmedical events befall even young people, often at unexpectedtimes. And difficult decisions accompany the final days oflife.

When you enter the medical system, your job as a patient isto make choices. The process, called informed consent,involves weighing the risks and benefits of one interventionand comparing it with alternatives. While these are calledmedical choices, they are really personal choices,reflecting your values, preferences and spiritual beliefs.That’s why, according to US law, medical ethics and commondecency, you as the patient are the one who chooses.

You always have the option of choosing no treatment at all.Our law states that a competent adult has the right torefuse treatment even if it means that he or she will diewithout it.

One day you may not be in a position to make choices foryourself. The medical and legal systems have providedmechanisms to guide the decisions you would make foryourself - if you could.

This is a good time to complete and sign two important legaldocuments: your *advanced directive,* sometimes called a*living will,* and a durable power-of-attorney.

The advanceddirective outlines your wishes for medical treatment. Giveyour doctor a copy and take it with you should you enter thehospital. Let your family know where this document is. Youcan also assign a durable power- of- attorney form thatidentifies the person who will make the choices for you, ifyou become unable to make them yourself.

The papers summarize important conversations you need tohave with your doctor and with those you love. Give thosewho will make choices as clear a roadmap as possible.

You will be asked to make choices for others you love, likeyour parents. This is a good time to approach them with thisdelicate conversation. Say, *Mom and Dad, I’m so happy thatyou’re in good health. It’s painful to even consider yourfinal days. I love you and want to make sure your wishes arehonored, even if you can’t state them yourself. If youcannot speak for yourself, who would you like to speak foryou? What would you want if you were in Terri Schiavo’scondition?*

If you find yourself in a position of making choices forsomeone you love, remember this. Your job is not to make thechoice you think is best. Your job is to make the choice youthink your loved one would make for himself or herself.

You can honor Terri Schiavo’s life and legacy by planningfor your own death. Hopefully you will die in peace andcomfort, surrounded by those you love. By communicating yourend-of-life wishes in advance, you offer a gift to those youleave behind. And in deciding how to die, may you get arenewed vision of how you want to live.