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Olsen Skoubye & Nielson, LLC
999 Murray Holladay Road, Suite 200
Salt Lake City, Utah 84117
(801) 365-1030 (phone)
(801) 365-1031 (Fax)
info@osnlaw.com
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Life Ending Decisions
Medical science can keep a person alive almost indefinitely, even when their quality of life has severely deteriorated through a terminal illness or other accident causing loss of brain function. Most people do not wish to be kept alive unnaturally under these circumstances. They want to die with dignity. Besides the dignity issue, the medical costs associated with a terminal illness may entirely deplete an estate.
Planning can be done to direct what type of care you desire. Most individuals desire that the dying process not be prolonged if there is no hope of recovery or they are in a comatose state and there appears to be no chance of their extrication from this state.
An Advanced Medical Directive is a directive to physicians and other care providers which states that life sustaining procedures should not be applied under circumstances you specify. It also directs who you want to make medical decisions for you should you be unable to direct your own care for any reason, even if you are not dying. I highly recommend this document for all of my clients. The power holder should be carefully informed about your wishes so that will know how to respond and follow them should you be unable to direct your own care.