ADVANCE DIRECTIVES, AUTONOMY AND UNINTENDED DEATH

This paper argues that living wills are typically nebulous and confuse d documents that do not effectively enable you to determine your futur e treatment. Worse, signing a living will can end your life in ways yo u never intended, long before you are either incompetent or terminally ill. This danger is compounded by the fact that those who implement l iving wills are often themselves dangerously confused, so that, for ex ample, they cannot be relied upon to distinguish living wills from DNR orders. In addition, the paper argues that advance directives concern ing resuscitation are often so confused that they end the lives of hea lthy, alert people who have not suffered cardiac or pulmonary arrest. Finally, the paper argues that advance directives establishing durable power of attorney for health care often preserve the chief dangers of living wills. Suggestions are offered as to how you can most effectiv ely direct your future treatment without endangering your life.