A Medical Directive: The Negative Effects Of Not Having One

What is a medical directive and what happens if you don’t have one?

Many people don’t consider a medical directive until they need one. Yet, learning from history gives us opportunities to make our lives and our loved ones’ lives better. In many cases there are actions we must take to show that we have learned something of value. Keeping this perspective, I now invite to turn your attention to the historic Terri Schiavo case that happened almost 25 years ago. If we learned anything at all from this case that dominated the media, it should have been about the negative effects of not having a medical directive.

And Overview Of The Terri Schiavo Case

In 1990, Terri Schiavo, a 26-year-old Florida woman collapsed in her home. Doctors believe a potassium imbalance caused her heart to temporarily stop, cutting off oxygen to her brain. She went into a coma and despite her husband’s efforts to raise money and have a stimulator put in her brain, she remained in a vegetative state for 15 years. Her husband spent more than seven years fighting Schiavo’s parents. He tried to get a court order to pull his wife’s feeding tube He claimed she would not want to be kept alive through artificial means. The case was highly charged. It was debated by the Florida legislature and U.S. Congress. Eventually, Schiavo’s husband prevailed, and Terri Schiavo died on March 31, 2005.

Much of Mr. Schiavo’s anguish and that of his in-laws could have been avoided. If Terri Schiavo had completed an Advance Medical Directive, also known as a Living Will, her wishes would have been known. These documents inform medical personnel as well as family members about one’s wishes for medical and resuscitation preferences should one become incapacitated.

Make Important Decisions About Your Life So Loved Ones Don’t Have To

None of us can predict the future. We do not know what life has in store for us. Cases like that of Terri Schiavo and events like the COVID-19 pandemic are perfect examples. They show we can’t always know what we’ll face in life. However, if we learn from someone else’s struggles, we can at least prepare for worst-case scenarios. Of course, being delighted if they never happen to us. We can prevent our loved ones from having to make very difficult decisions on our behalf. We can have discussions with our families and loved ones and help each member of the family understand your wishes. If you have adult children, those 18 and older, you can discuss their last wishes as well and encourage them to create a medical directive.

In a 2020 survey by Gallup, 45% of U.S. adults said they have a living will. That figure is up from previous years, so as a country we are coming to understand the importance of making these important decisions.

The Peace Of Mind Is Priceless

Want to ensure your family isn’t burdened with end of life decisions? Then, it’s time to create an Advance Medical Directive. At the same time, we can also discuss creating an estate plan, of which medical directives and living wills are important aspects. Give my office a call at 404-370-0696. Having these important legal documents provides an inexplicable sense of peace.

Looking to find an experienced estate lawyer in the Georgia area who is skilled in asset protection and estate plan preparation? Shannon Pawley is an attorney in Georgia with expertise in estate planning and asset protection. Shannon can provide assistance with creating an estate plan to include making a will and how to establish a trust properly. If you have questions about asset protection or questions about making an estate plan, reach out to Shannon and she will be glad to help answer all the estate planning questions you might have!