Wisconsin legislation aimed at disempowering living wills

[mondo joe]

Anyone who thinks this Terri Schiavo case isn't about your OWN rights should think again.

In Wisconsin the repubs are pushing legislation that would allow physicians and others to DISREGARD your living will.



http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/index.php?ntid=32360&ntpid=4

[Eric J in MN]

1. Based on that article, the bill just says that a particular doctor

doesn't have to participate, not that a family can't get another doctor.

[liveoaktx]

2. According to the article, doctors there already can refuse to

honor a living will, but have an obligation to find a doctor that will. The article says the new legislation doesn't change that.

[salin]

3. odd, given that W himself signed into law in Texas

the ability of hospitals to cut off life support - even above the families' wishes - if it is deemed that there is no chance for the patient to improve and the support is the only thing keeping the patient alive. Atrios has an item right now from Texas about a family in which the 68 year old father/husband is about to be taken off life support over the families objections - a situation enabled by W himself. Why isn't the media picking up on this?

[LdyGuique]

5. Law 166 in Texas was signed by Bush in 1999

and then was expanded to include children in 2003

It also includes the provision that if the patient no longer has funds to pay for care and is terminal, a hospital can terminate care.

[salin]

6. That needs to be broadcast widely.... and asked - why bush

has changed his position and what he is going to do about his Texas law.

[whistle]

4. Right, the republicans want to make sure that nothing is left...

..when a person goes to their graves, no estate, no insurance policy, no cash in a mattress, nothing. Then and only then would they allow a person to die. Does that mean also, that the heirs of a dying person become liable for all of the debts and expenses that were incurred to keep that person alive against their wishes? I think it does and that now makes the motivations of those who voted for the anti-bankruptcy bill crystal clear. These are one sick greedy bunch of thugs!

[msongs]

7. put all dying people in death camps....so we can convert them all

to you-know-what then take their money and posessions.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/political-shirts.htm

[Wilms]

8. .