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No matter where you stand regarding Terri Schiavo’s feeding tube issues, almost everyone agrees that what happened to Terri Schiavo and her family was a

tragedy.

Terri Schiavo’s severe brain damage made her unable to communicate her own health care decisions. When you cut through everything, at the core of the Schiavo battle were two questions:

  • Who should make decisions for Terri?

  • What decisions should be made?

The good news is that, by answering the who and what questions before you become incapacitated, you can avoid a Schiavo tragedy.

The Who Question

You can pick who will make decisions for you. You may choose a spouse, your children, a parent, a sibling, or a close friend. The best people to pick are those who will:

  • Be able to ask questions and get good answers from the doctors.

  • Make the decisions that you would make (even if they disagree with you).

  • Be able to stand up for you and deal with others who may disagree.

  • Be available when needed.

Once you’ve picked who you want, make it official! List them as your agents in your Power of Attorney for Health Care. Name three or more agents if possible, to act in sequence.

The What Question

The duty of a person who makes decisions for you is to follow your wishes, values and views. Don’t leave them guessing. Just saying “don’t ever put me on machines” doesn’t work - a respirator could make great sense depending on the outlook for your recovery.

A good starting place might be discussing your feelings about whether you’d want a feeding tube if you were in Terri Schiavo’s condition. Also, what do you care most about? Are there parts of your body that, were they no longer available, would tell you that your life would not be worth living? Do you want to be kept alive, no matter what? Think and communicate.

Summing Up

To avoid a Schiavo tragedy, take three steps:

  • Pick who will speak for you.

  • Make your selection official.

  • Think and communicate.

As time passes, don’t forget to keep your selection of agents and communication up-to-date.

If you would like to create or update your Power of Attorney for Health Care, an attorney who practices in the area of Elder Law can be of great assistance to you. When conducting your search, look for an attorney who is a member of National Association of Elder Law Attorneys.

It may seem as though these are decisions that could wait until later - but really, they are choices that need to be made now. Regardless of your age or health condition - take the time to think about it. Choosing now may save both you and your family additional heartache later.