Terri Shiavo, RIP

Nope, not going to argue the case. It's over now, at least for Terri; and it's all too, too sad anyway.

So why blog? Because we all should have learned something here. And the lesson is:
PUT IT IN WRITING!

If you do not have a living will/physician's directive/medical power of attorney/whatever, do it now. You can go on the internet and find forms that correspond to your state's specific laws. And find a form that lets you be specific. Don't just say that you don't want "extraordinary measures" taken. Ask three people to define "extraordinary measures," and you'll get at least four definitions. One doctor might not consider it extraordinary to have you on a ventilator for a year. Another might consider water extraordinary if you can't swallow it yourself.

"But I'm young!" you say.
Terri was 26 when she collapsed. I don't care if you're 18-and-a-day. You could be in a car wreck tomorrow.

"But I trust my spouse/parent/significant other to make the right decision."
Yeah, but how do you know the hospital and/or doctors will, if you don't have it in writing? How do you know that Congress, which of course has nothing else to do, won't try to intervene? What if your spouse/parent/significant other isn't there? What if they're too emotionally devastated to think about it? What if they're in the same wreck?

Put it in writing. Do it now. Don't put your family through what Terri's parents & husband have been through for the last 15 years.

Nobody deserves that.