Living Will wording

[Scott_Waddell]

I looking for a basic statement for a living will. Something simple like,

I wish to receive ordinary care in all my medical treatment in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church. Questions regarding ordinary care should be referred to the local bishop.

Waddya think?

Scott

 

[Dr.Colossus]

Great, unless your bishop is a spineless coward like Terri’s was.

 

[Scott_Waddell]

Dr. Colossus:

Great, unless your bishop is a spineless coward like Terri’s was.

I would suggest that had Terri had an intention like this in writing, the bishop would have been forced to grow a spine.

Scott

 

[Dr.Colossus]

I would have thought a brutal 14-day murder would have made a bishop grow a spine, too, but I was mistaken. The fact is, your statement is only as clear as a Bishop is willing to make it regarding what constitutes Catholic teaching and what doesn’t. In the face of political pressure, are you absolutely positive that your bishop (or any bishop for that matter) would tell it like it is?

 

[Lisa4Catholics]

Scott Waddell:

I would suggest that had Terri had an intention like this in writing, the bishop would have been forced to grow a spine.

Scott

I don’t know Scott,I saw some of his statements:nope: There is something called the will to live on one of the pro-life sites I will try to find it and post it for you Now you be good and stop bothering those chihuahuas:tsktsk:

 

[Scott_Waddell]

Dr. Colossus:

I would have thought a brutal 14-day murder would have made a bishop grow a spine, too, but I was mistaken. The fact is, your statement is only as clear as a Bishop is willing to make it regarding what constitutes Catholic teaching and what doesn’t. In the face of political pressure, are you absolutely positive that your bishop (or any bishop for that matter) would tell it like it is?

Actually, I’m going to go ahead and trust my local bishop on this one. I don’t mind creating chess problems.

Scott

 

[JimG]

Questions regarding ordinary care should be referred to the local bishop.

If everyone’s living will had this wording, it would place an impossible burden on the local bishop, who has neither the time nor the particular knowledge of each individual to make these decisions.

“Ordinary care” and “extraordinary care” can validly mean different things in differing individual medical circumstances. The bishop would have to know not only Catholic medical ethics–which I am sure he does–but also the individual medical history, diagnosis, and prognosis of each individual case, as well as the expectations for proposed treatments.

 

[Steve_Andersen]

Yeah, what JimG said

Scott, your wording is fairly vague IMHO.

While Catholic guidelines talk about the presumption of care, even they admit that not all treatments are appropriate for all conditions and that it must be determined individually. Your Bishop may be a swell guy but it is not really his call. He’s just there to advise.

Check with the law in your area to see which family member would have the right to make choices for you (IIRC it is spouses, then adult children, siblings, parents, then other kin)
Then talk with that family member about your wishes…and have witnesses especially if members of your family disagree with each other or you.

I think you’re allowed to assign responsibility to another, out of sequence, if you wish.

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

You can get information on the Will to Live at www.nrlc.org (National Right to Life Committee), and information on the Loving Will at www.all.org (American Life League).

I understand these are better alternatives to a Living Will.