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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated

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To: DMaA who wrote (104802)3/18/2005 3:41:39 PM
From: Ilaine  Read Replies (1) of 793813
 
The first living will I drafted was for an elderly woman who was about to have surgery. She described the death of one of her closest friends, who had drafted the typical living will, the kind you may have, that directs that no intervention be allowed if the patient is in a terminal state.

Well, turns out that this meant that a conscious woman was deprived of water and narcotics during what turned out to be a long and painful death. She begged for water, and she begged for pain medication, but these were refused because it was contrary to her living will. And she slowly died in agony.

She was shocked. I was shocked. Now, all my living wills direct that the patient be given palliative care, including narcotics, in order that death be pain free, and sufficient water to quench thirst.

Natural death doesn't have to be painful. This is the 21st century, after all.
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