Basil I completely agree.My life and what I do with it has nothing to do with with anyone else but me and mine.When I reach the time when I am a misery to myself and others then I reserve the right to say GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD,its been fun but I'm out of here no matter what the rest of the world thinks.

I'm all for choice of the options available without some do gooder trying to overide my wishes.

I haven't got a living will (have a normal one), is it just a clause in your will and how would you word it?

Thanks
Vic

I ditto the above remarks Bsil what is a living will Thanks Helena.

Basil, Basil, Basil,

You can very contencious at times. What a morbid subject. Like most I also have a will and that is about as far as it goes.

Haven't given the subject much thought as it is the last thing I want to think about at this moment in time.

You and I are the about the same age and we are still YOUNG (at heart anyways). You have your mate and I have my two, and they keep us rolling along.

Maybe I will give the subject some due thought in a few years.

I am too busy enjoying life to worry about how I want to end it. Live life to its fullest and get out there and have FUN.

Happy travels.

Trouble is if you leave it for later, you may not be able to make a will at any time, say like if you had an accident and suffered brain damage or lost your marbles some other way.

That would exclude you from making any sort of will, let alone a living will. Personal choice though.

Vic

Called by a variety of names but all do the same thing. You set them up via a solicitor who (if they are any good) will discuss with your medical advisers who can detail any ongoing health issues you have. Being flippant, say you have sleep apnoea and fall asleep somewhere the will cannot be activated simply because you are asleep. They won't allow for euthanasia BUT they will allow the life support machine to be turned off under situations where either you are "brain dead" ie no brain activity can be monitored or if resusitating you will bring you back as a vegetable. This is the thing I can think would have no worse outcome, to have a brain that cannot do anything except blink your eyes....
Now I like it simply because it takes the onerous task of turning off the machine from a relative who lets face it is not going to be in any fit frame of mind to make the decision anyway.
I work with the elderly and believe me the mess that has to be sorted because they did not believe in making a will is simply unbelievable plus of course a lot of these elderly do not want the Govt to take their money but without a will this is exactly what happens, the family dosn't benifit only the lawyers (in one case I know off they managed to drag things out untill every last cent had been extracted from the estate).
Yes certainly it's your choice but to those who say they don't need a will then think about the mess you leave behind. Maybe you want that - at last you can give your kids curry!!!
Likewise power of attorney and enduring guardianship, good to have simply because when you can no longer think for yourself at least a trusted relative/ friend can make sure your wishes are carried out.
m,aybe it's my Boy Scout Training but I reckon one should try to be prepared for what ever curved balls life throws at you.
None of this is euthanasia, but it does give you some say in what happens to you in your later years.

Didn't know about that one Basil. I'll check it out. Solicitor or Dr. ?
Thanks for that,
Cheers,
xina.

Thanks Basil.
Cheers,
xina.

I agree on this with you Baz and others.
After seeing many people laying in a bed, kept alive only by machines its a very harrowing experience on the family, having to watch, and sometimes live in the false hope there will be some miracle cure or turnaround, which never happens.

Those who read the forum regularly will have seen me mention my friends daughter on occassion, she often confided in me that she did not want to be 'on any silly machines' as she put it, she didn't want others having to suffer seeing her in such a state, thankfully things never went down this path, as I am not sure what her parents would have decided to do.

I think the person should be able to make the decision for themselves, the problem with this is what is called sound state of mind, a lot of people never give this much thought until they are slabbed out in hospital then theres the issue of whether they are of sound mind to make such a (informed presumably) decision.

I feel it is cruel to all concerned to allow things to drag on and on, especially in the cases of terminal illness, with no know cure.