MAKING PLANS FOR DYING

A recent survey conducted for the American Medical Association showed that most people know little of advance directives. Although most people don't have them, when they're told what the documents are, they consider them important to have.

Advance directives are a kind of combination living will and health-care power of attorney. They have become more important as advances in medical technology can today keep alive those people whose injuries a generation ago would have been fatal.

When an accident or injury leaves someone in what doctors call a persistent vegetative state, loved ones are forced to grapple not only with their grief, but often with the most heart-wrenching decision of all: whether to pull the plug.

But even if a decision is made, with no advanced directive the family can face a long, uphill court battle to see their wish granted.

Advance directives or living wills take care of that problem by enabling living persons to take control of their own deaths. The AMA has joined forces with the American Bar Association to come up with a form that would be legal in every state. This is a step in the right direction.

Rather than leave such matters of life and death to an attending physician or, worse, the courts, people should be encouraged to choose a surrogate decision maker they truly trust.

The decision to withdraw life support is best left with a trusted family member who knew the sufferer, and his wishes as set out in a sentient legal decree, better than anyone.