Opinion ID: 1789462
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Did Mrs. Cameron truly understand the terms of her living will relating to the removal of a feeding tube?

Text: The Knights argue that their mother did not truly understand that her living will provided that a feeding tube would be removed if she were in the condition she is in currently. In pertinent part, Mrs. Cameron's living will states: Declaration made this the 20th day of February, 1995. I, DELORES S. CAMERON[,] being of sound mind, willfully and voluntarily making known my desires that my dying shall not [be] artificially prolonged under the circumstances set forth below, do hereby declare: I. TERMINAL CONDITION If, at any time my attending physician determines that I am unable to direct my care and I should have an incurable injury, disease, or illness certified to be a terminal condition by two attending physicians who have personally examined me, one of whom shall be my attending physician, and the physicians have determined that my death will occur whether or not life-sustaining procedures are utilized and where the application of life-sustaining procedures would serve only to artificially prolong the dying process, I direct that such procedures be withheld or withdrawn, and that I be permitted to die naturally with only the administration of medication or the performance of any medical procedure deemed necessary to provide me with comfort care [sic]. II. MY OTHER SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS My other specific directions are as follows (initial only those provisions you want applied): . . . . 2. Persistive Vegetative State. If in the judgment of my attending physician, I am in a condition of persistive vegetative state: (a) My wishes with respect to life-sustaining treatment [are] as indicated by my initials (initial only one). /s/ D.S.C. (1) I do NOT want life-sustaining treatment that would only maintain me in a condition me [sic] in a persistive vegetative state without curing me. . . . . (b) My wishes with respect to artificially provided nutrition and hydration are as indicated by my initials (initial only one). /s/ D.S.C. (1) I do NOT want artificially provided nutrition and hydration provided to me even if withholding or withdrawing it causes me pain. . . . . III. DEFINITIONS For the purposes of this Declaration[,] the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them: 1. Life-Sustaining Procedures. Any medical treatment, procedure, or intervention that, in the judgment of the attending physician, when applied to me, would serve only to prolong the dying process. These procedures shall include, but are not limited to, assisted ventilation, renal dialysis, surgical procedures, blood transfusions, and the administration of drugs and antibiotics. Life-sustaining treatment shall not include the administration of medication or the performance of any medical treatment where, in the opinion of the attending physician, the medication or treatment is necessary to provide comfort or to alleviate pain. 2. Artificially Provided Nutrition and Hydration. The supplying of food and water through a conduit, such as a tube or intravenous line, where the recipient is not required to chew or swallow voluntarily, including, but not limited to, nasogastric tubes, gastrostomies, jejunostomies, and intravenous infusions. Artificially provided nutrition and hydration does not include assisted feeding, such as spoon or bottle feeding. 3. Attending Physician. The physician selected by, or assigned to, me and who has primary responsibility for my treatment and care. 4. Terminal Condition or Injury. An illness or injury for which there is no reasonable prospect of cure or recovery, death is imminent, and the application of life-sustaining procedure[s] would only prolong the dying process. 5. Persistive Vegetative State. A condition, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty: (a) Which will last permanently, without improvement; (b) In which thought, sensation, purposeful action, social interaction, and awareness of self and environment are absent; and (c) Which has existed for 30 days since diagnosis as [a] persistent vegetative state. IV. APPLICABILITY In the absence of my ability to give directions regarding the use of such life-sustaining procedures and artificially provided nutrition and hydration, it is my intention that this Declaration shall be honored by my family and physician(s) as the final expression of my legal right to refuse medical or surgical treatment and accept the consequences from such refusal. . . . . I understand the full import of this Declaration and I am emotionally and mentally competent to make this Declaration. I understand that I may revoke this Declaration at any time. Dated this the 20th day of February, 1995. /s/ Delores S. Cameron DELORES S. CAMERON The Knights have presented no evidence tending to show that the trial court's finding that Mrs. Cameron's living will was legally effective was plainly or palpably wrong. We conclude that there is sufficient evidence in the record supporting the trial court's finding that Mrs. Cameron's living will was valid. [4]