"I just don't want anyone publicizing video of me in any kind of mentally damaged state" - (*cough*) barn door (*cough*) horse (*cough*) ogre...

Do I know you?

Believe me--the Ogre movie is the least of it; how about some of that party footage from the late 70s/early 80s?

And, BTW, how about the Little Black Sambo sequence from high school? Has you wife seen *that*?

So you'd put your guy on the same level as Michael Schiavo? I wouldn't. One of the reasons a lot of people had a problem with Terri's situation was their uncomfortableness (for lack of a better word) with Michael.

Just to be very clear...your guy, just judging by your description is far above Michael Schiavo. Didn't know if that was perfectly clear after reading my comment.

I realize that a lot of people don't trust Michael Schiavo.

But I'm talking about my own marriage now.

Mrs. Atilla,

For the love of your fans, please give yourself a decent time frame to recover before making a decision. ;)

Example:

http://archives.postandcourier.com/archive/arch96/0896/arc0829134205.shtml

http://archives.postandcourier.com/archive/arch96/1096/arc1001140395.shtml

http://archives.postandcourier.com/archive/arch97/0197/arc0115145849.shtml

Six weeks is a decent starting point for recovery potential. Personally, I would go with six months of standard treatment. If no significant changes occur, try a few weeks of some more extreme therapies. If no changes occur, let me rest in peace.

I fear the consequences of any attempts of politicians to "Improve" the situation.

Living wills are essential today more than ever!

Right. No longer is it safe to assume that you will get the care you expect. The assumption doesn't appear to be in favor of life anymore, and getting less so all the time.

My real question though, is how soon will it be easy for doctors or estranged family members to ignore advance directives in favor of life extending treatment if it is not "expedient"? Or have we already passed that point?

My parents, quite shaken by this whole episode, are revising their living wills to clarify that starvation/dehydration is NOT what they meant by "no heroic measures". In fact they are modifying it all the way back to where it will be simply a DNR directive. All other reasonable therapies to treat their condition and provide for their comfort are back on the table.