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.