Tuesday, March 22, 2005

Technical difficulties

The DSL is down this morning so I am blogging from another location.
I forgot how much dial-up is the pitts.
Anyway, there are two things to think about...

First, if the last several days have not done anything else, they have underscored the importance of everyone leaving a final directive for health care. The Critical Conditions Planning Guide (PDF) is to be used by whoever you decide in advance will be your designated agents for health care decisions. There should be a primary agent, then three or four alternates. They should all know who they are, have a copy of your instructions, and know exactly what you want to have done under a veriety of circumstances. They need not be family members or health care providers, but it is important that they agree to be your agents.

Second, following the pageant of the Legislative and Administrative branches during the last seventy-two hours, I have a hard time appreciating complaints about "activist" judges overstepping their authority. It seems to me that Congress and the President have done just that by getting involved in a matter heretofore left up to families and states.

At this writing the case of Terri Schiavo remains unresolved.
My heart goes out to all who have strong feelings on both sides of the issue.
The anguish we all feel today is the result of a preventable situation that should have been resolved in advance. Unfortunately, the case represents more the rule than the exception.

1 comment:

Hoots said...

Can't believe it!
That removed comment was spam from "Blue Cross of California."
Is the health care system in trouble or what? Sheesh.