Reply #117: 15 years ago

[Horse with no Name]

Living wills were almost unheard of.
Now it is mandatory that all patients over the age of 18 be informed of them so they can make that decision, but back when all this happened, they were a rarity.

The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed this right in 1990 and 1997 stating "An individual has a constitutional right to request the withdrawal or withholding of medical treatment, even if doing so will result in the persons death" (Kaplan 3). Today, all 50 states authorize and use written advance medical directives in the form of Living Wills or medical power of attorneys. These allow for the withdrawal of extraordinary means that prolong life such as intravenous feedings, respirators, and artificial kidney machines, decided by a person prior to illness or injury. According to a 1991 Gallup poll, 75% of all Americans approve of living wills (Kaplan 3).