Terri Schiavo's Gift
Terri Schiavo's Gift By Vicki Rackner MD
Terri Schiavo and her family have given us a gift. They remind
us that planning for your death is your final act of love.
For the past few weeks, we have witnessed painful lessons we
would prefer to ignore. Death is a part of life. Tragic medical
events befall even young people, often at unexpected times. And
difficult decisions accompany the final days of life.
When you enter the medical system, your job as a patient is to
make choices. The process, called informed consent, involves
weighing the risks and benefits of one intervention and
comparing it with alternatives. While these are called medical
choices, they are really personal choices, reflecting your
values, preferences and spiritual beliefs. That