Living Wills became imperative in Florida after the entire country watched the Terri Shiavo ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terri_Schiavo_case ) drama play out over many years as the Husband tried to allow his wife to die in peace, while her parents insisted on keeping her alive at all costs. Even the Florida Supreme Court and the U.S. Congress got involved in this family's fight. The case even evolved into a college level course at Michigan State University: https://www.msu.edu/course/hm/546/schiavo_case.htm
When Terri finally died, CNN covered the story: http://www.cnn.com/2005/LAW/03/31/schiavo/
Almost 10 years later, the Connecticut Supreme Court is being asked to consider whether a 17-year old should be able to refuse Chemotherapy that has an 80% chance of saving her life. The oversimplification of questions in court is required by the media to tell a compelling story, but most people realize family healthcare decisions, and issues involving death, cancer, chemotherapy, and the Department of Children and Families are seldom as simple as the media tries to portray.
The Orlando Sentinel carried the story on Page A-3 (http://eedition.orlandosentinel.com/Olive/ODE/orlandosentinel2/
which originated with the Hartford Current and picked up by Raw Story here: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/01/teen-girl-and-mother-fight-state-of-connecticut-over-right-to-refuse-life-saving-chemo/
Questions of how to end your life, or how to live your life are ever present.
I work in Collaborative Law because tough decisions require well reasoned approaches and detailed answers.
Collaborate.
For your family's sake.
Peace.
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