Question 2:  What person or persons should make medical decisions 
for you if you become incapable of making your own decisions         
or unable to express your wishes?

     Your 'living will' is only as effective
as the proxies you appoint to interpret and enforce it.
Your autonomous choices expressed in your Advance Directive
need a strong advocate (or several) who will stand up to authority-figures.
They need the integrity, self-confidence, & presence of mind
to make medical choices that might go against doctors' recommendations.
Your proxies must be able to reach independent decisions,
based on your settled values, all relevant facts, & professional opinions.

     Your Advance Directive can be rendered meaningless
if the medical personnel ignore it or override it
because they believe they know what is best for you.
Many doctors routinely make medical decisions for their patients,
based on general principles they apply to all such cases.
But if your personal medical ethics might differ from such choices,
you need someone who will stand up for your settled values.


    The selection above is the beginning of Question 2 from the book:
Your Last Year: Creating Your Own Advance Directive for Medical Care.
If you click this title, you will see the complete table of contents.
The table of contents lists several other sections of this Question about proxies.
If you would like to see one person's Answer to this Question,
go to James Park's Advance Directive for Medical Care.
Scroll down to Answer 2.


Go to the index page for Your Last Year:
Creating Your Own Advance Directive for Medical Care.


Go to the Portal for Advance Directives.


Go to the Right-to-Die Portal.


Go to the Medical Ethics index page.


Go to the DEATH index page.


Go to the opening page for this website:
An Existential Philosopher's Museum.





The views and opinions expressed in this page are strictly those of the page author.
The contents of this page have not been reviewed or approved by the University of Minnesota.