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Euthanasia and an individual person's right to die are hotly debated topics in the United States. Currently, there are quite a few legal gray areas when dealing with these topics. Particularly in dealing with something called persistent vegetative state, or PVS. Made famous by the legal battle within Terri Schiavo's family, neurologists can't even agree on the term for the neurological state, arguing for "vegetative state," "continuing vegetative state," and finally the term most frequently used by the media, "persistent vegetative state." In Australia, the National Health and Medical Research Council suggests "post coma unresponsiveness."
Whatever the term may be, the symptoms of a vegetative state are the same. Whereas patients in comas have their eyes closed, PVS victims can often open their eyes. They may even act as though they are partially conscious – experiencing sleep cycles, making sounds, swallowing, all without external stimulus. Once this state crosses the 30 day mark, patients are said to be in a persistent vegetative state.
Recovery is possible, adults have a 50 percent chance of regaining consciousness after 6 months. Once the first year passes, however, recovery rates are very low.
With an Illinois living will, we can let our family know our wishes concerning PVS and artificial life support. And not just PVS – living wills govern life support useage in the event that death is imminent or a state of coma becomes permanent or a patient is declared brain dead. Unfortunately, once in that state, we are not able to make our desires known if they are not already established in writing. Today's life support systems can keep an individual's body alive for years, regardless of the absence of consciousness.
Prepare yourself for these difficult decisions so your family won't have to do it for you. Unlike a Last Will and Testament, Illinois living wills simply let you decide whether or not to be kept on artificial life support. Indicate any special wishes or instructions and know that if you change your mind at any time, an Illinois living will can be cancelled.
Included in the LegalZoom living will is the ability to grant someone else what's called health care power of attorney, meaning they can make important health care decisions on your behalf in case you are unable to do so. LegalZoom can help you quickly and easily take control of your health care decisions by preparing a customized Illinois living will online.
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