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Originally Posted by BlackCrayon
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in her case she never would of had the option because she wasn't of sound mind. eventually she died in her sleep after months of being in a hospital and a decade of watching her get worse and worse. we all knew she would never choose to live the way she did in her last years. should a power of attorney have the say in a case where a person is not of sound mind? its hard to say but the people suffering who aren't capable of making decisions need an option too.
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The issue with that is what is known as a "Ulysses Contract" where you are in one state of mind and trying to bind yourself to a firm idea of what you'll want in future state of mind. Every 18 year old would likely say when asked they would not want to live as a quadriplegic. However, they won't likely feel that way if that moment came and will often find new resolve and determination to make the best of it. So just because someone says they will want something in the future, does not mean they will actually want it when the time comes.
The rules and laws and safeguards in situations like what you are describing are really there to primarily deal with this dilemma.