Author Archives: Laurie Hart

George Santayana, the noted philosopher, poet and novelist said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” It has been more than three and a half years since the legal battle concerning end-of-life decisions for Terri Schiavo made national headlines. Schiavo did not have a living will. The legal battle between her husband and parents over the withdrawal of a feeding tube used to keep Schiavo alive took almost 12 years and involved the governor of Florida, the U.S. Congress, the U.S. Supreme Court and the president of the United States.

Unfortunately, after this well-publicized illustration of the need to have an advance directive, recent surveys indicate that the vast majority of adults in the United States still do not have one. (The term “advance directive” covers both a living will and a health care power of attorney.) Read More