Advances in healthcare technology, recent court rulings and emerging political trends have brought with them a number of life-and-death options which lots of have in no way prior to thought of. The looming prospect of legalized physician-assisted suicide is one such choice which severely erodes the inherent value and dignity of human life. Best Health Products -publicized efforts of specific medical doctors to give carbon monoxide poisoning or prescribe lethal drugs for their terminally ill sufferers constitute euthanasia. So may the removal of particular life-sustaining treatment options from a patient who is not in a terminal situation. Euthanasia and willful suicide, in any type, are offenses against life they should be and are rejected by the vast majority of U.S. states.
Nonetheless, people faced with these complicated dilemmas should be produced conscious that there are morally-proper, life-affirming legal alternatives out there to them. 1 such alternative, for Catholics and other people, can be a “health care energy of attorney” and “living will.” South Carolina State law makes it possible for you to appoint somebody as your agent to make overall health care decisions for you in the event you drop the capacity to choose for yourself. This appointment is executed by signifies of a “well being care power of attorney” type, a model for which can be obtained from your lawyer.
A health care energy of attorney can be a morally and legally acceptable suggests of protecting your wishes, values and religious beliefs when faced with a critical illness or debilitating accident. Accordingly, for persons wishing to execute wellness care powers of lawyer, see the following directions and guidance from the authoritative teachings and traditions of various religious faiths.
The intent of the wellness care energy of attorney law is to allow adults to delegate their God-given, legally-recognized suitable to make health care decisions to a designated and trusted agent. The law does not intend to encourage or discourage any distinct well being care treatment. Nor does it legalize or market euthanasia, suicide or assisted suicide. The wellness care power of attorney law enables you, or any competent adult, to designate an “agent,” such as a household member or close friend, to make well being care decisions for you if you shed the capability to decide for your self in the future. This is completed by completing a well being care power of attorney form.
You…
o Have the proper to make all of your own well being care choices while capable of undertaking so. The health care power of attorney only becomes helpful when and if you come to be incapacitated by way of illness or accident.
o Have the correct to challenge your doctor’s determination that you are not capable of creating your own medical decisions.
o CAN give unique instructions about your medical treatment to your agent and can forbid your agent from generating particular treatment decisions. To do so, you simply will need to communicate your wishes, beliefs and guidelines to your agent. Instructions about any particular treatment options or procedures which you desire or do not wish beneath unique conditions can also be written in your well being care power of attorney and/or supplied in a separate living will.
o Can revoke your well being care energy of attorney or the appointment of your agent at any time when competent.
o May not designate as your agent an administrator or employee of the hospital, nursing household or mental hygiene facility to which you are admitted, unless they are associated by blood, marriage or adoption. 1996
Your agent…
o Can commence producing choices for you only when your medical professional determines that you are no longer in a position to make well being care choices for oneself.
o May make any and all health care decisions for you, like treatments for physical or mental situations and decisions concerning life-sustaining procedures, unless you limit the energy of your agent.
o Will not have authority to make decisions about the artificial provision of nutrition and hydration (nourishment and water via feeding tubes) unless he or she clearly knows that these decisions are in accord with your wishes about those measures.
o Is protected from legal liability when acting in very good faith.
o Should base his or her choices on your wishes or, if your wishes can not be reasonably ascertained, in your “greatest interests.” The agent’s decisions will take precedence over the choices of all other persons, regardless of family relationships.