The state of Idaho allows people to spell out what kinds of medical care they want — or not — through a living will.  Drafting a living will is an act of peaonal responsibility, writes Janice McGeachin, as as Post Register Guest columnist.

Make your wishes known

As a member of the House Health and Welfare Committee, I follow important issues relating to health care.  The recent publicity of the Terry Schiavo case has prompted me to write about the imporance of a living will.  It is not my intent to either defend or criticize the actions that have been taken in this case, but rather to stress the importance for each of us to accept personal responsibility for our own health care.    The following is a statement of policy for the state of Idaho regarding this issue:    "The Legislature finds that adult persons have the fundamental right to control the decisions relating to the rendering of their medical care, including the decision to have life-sustaining procedures withheld or withdrawn.  The legislature further finds that modern medical technology has made possible the artificial prolongation of human life beyond natural limits.  The Legislature further finds that patients are sometimes unable to express their desire to withhold or withdraw such artificial life prolongation procedures which provide nothing medically necessary or beneficial to the patient because of the patient's inability to communicate with the physician.  In recognition of the dignity and privacy which patients have a right to expect, the Legislature hereby declares that the laws of this state shall recognize the right of a competent person to have his wishes for medical treatment and for the withdrawal of artificial life sustaining procedures carried out even though that person is no longer able to

communicate with the physician" (Idaho Code 39-4502).    A living will allows a competent adult to direct the providing, withholding or withdrawal of life-prolonging procedures in the event that such person has a terminal condition, has an end-stage condition or is in a persistent vegetative state.  Included in the living will is a specific directive to withhold or provide teatment.  A person may direct all medical treatment, care, nutrition and hydration necessary to restore health arid sustain life.  If the application of artificial life-sustaining procedures shall serve only to prolong the moment of death, a person may direct such procedures he withdrawn except for the administration of nutrition and hydration.  Or a person may direct such life-sustaining procedures be withdrawn, including the withdrawal of the administration of nutrition and hydration.    Clearly, the policy in Idaho is to recognize and respect the desire of the individual in this situation it is very important that we each make this decision for ourselves while we are able.  If we do not make our wishes known, someone in our family or the state may have to make that decision for us.   Asking a family member to make that kind of a derision is a very difficult thing to do.  I know this because I had to help make that kind of a decision for my grandmother.  And if the state makes a decision that may be against a person's desires, it would be an unnecessary burden on the taxpayer.    The following Web site provides the forms you need to establish a living will: www.findlegalforms.com.    McGeachin, R-Idaho Falls, is serving her first term in the Idaho House of Representatives.  You can write to her of 6121 N. Fifth West, Idaho Faits, ID 83401.