Advance Directives: A Matter of Life and Death Imagine a loved one......better yet, imagine yourself lying in a hospital bed. You are unable to move or to show any signs of life. Your existence is controlled by a respirator, a feeding tube, and a I.V. Your cognizant functions are gone. For all intents and purposes, you are dead. Your body is no longer able to sustain life, its entire purpose is now replaced …showed first 75 words of 1412 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1412 total…to be the center of a nation wide news frenzy? Just filling out a living will will not ensure that your wishes are respected. You must also talk about them with your proxy, family, friends, and health care providers. A combination of paper and conversation is the most powerful tool that you can have. Protect yourself and protect your family. It is an uncomfortable and troubling subject, but it is one that cannot be ignored.