Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / April 7, 2005, edition 1 / Page 17
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SUPendulum i'Oiurqr- FEATURES I? O ? >>' f t-sA / -f)pi r f' ' If - > .’>(f Thursday, April 7, 2005 • Page 17 importance fiving wills Shiavo's case encourages Americans to Photo courtesy of www.BBC.com Schiavo had written down her wishes before becoming severely brain damaged there would not have been a question whether to keep her alive by the feeding tube. ■jz^igh Ann Vanscov ^^atures Editor ~ Terri Schiavo’s life story has changed the way Americans ^ink about death. , The story’s popularity in the news has helped many peop e I'^alize that they should start thinking early about having a iv ing will. If Schiavo had written down her wishes before ^^^Xtto^ey Christopher Likens in Sarasota iverelvhr«ir,^o«,o„«^th^rP would not have been a question /vuuu y f Many Americans are now realizing the importance of a living will. Lawyers and the other organizations report that more and more people are putting their wishes down on paper after hearing about Schiavo’s case. Most American adults, estimates are as high as 75 percent, do not have written directives for their families to follow. Dying is a scaiy topic, but people have to start think ing about it early. Terri Schiavo definitely taught us that. —Kelly Gallagher, freshman severeir^K'^^ wntten down n ^ question Attorney Christopher Likens in Sarasota, scary topic, but people have to start thinking about it early " 'vhethmoT r”*®! ^'iredtetubeortopul^ Fla- this March that his clients almost Kelly Gallagher, fresh,nan, said. "Terri Schiavo der.nitety tner to keep her alive by a reeding tu r „1.Urinrr nr» Tf*rri Srhinvn whf^n thev mme mtn mnlff* n taiirtKt 111- ^ uimii udiimgcu ulciw. '^'hether to keep her alive by a feeding tube or to pu her starve to death. ,, j After a judge ruled that her feeding tube could be ’ Schiavo’s husband Michael, warned viewers ot '%htline" to "make a living will, talk about it. Death is goi g happen. You need to write it down." always bring up Terri Schiavo when they come into make a taught us that." living will. "Almost universally, it's 'that poor girl.’ I don't ever In order to go about constnicting a living will certain steps want that to happen to me,'" Likens said, "People are much must be taken. more informed about the issue." To be valid, the proper form must be used for your state and A living will legally expresses what you want to occur if be in compliance with the laws of your state. Some states you are tenninally ill or unable to speak require two witnesses to oversee your signature or that\he & of www.BBC.com ^c/)/avo's case has changed the way many Americans think about death for yourself It also states who you would put in charge of making fmal decisions if need be. This would allow doctors to know whether to use artificial means to keep the body alive. When should people start thinking about living wills? Should college stu dents have something in writing? Some students believe that precau tions should be taken as young as col lege. “I think that college students should start thinking about what they want now,” freshman Megan Long said. “They should start contacting a lawyer.” In most states citizens can start writ ing their own living will at age 18. Many people don’t want to think about writing a living will because they don’t like thinking about death. "Dying is a form be signed in the presence of a notary public, or both. Two witnesses are required in the state of North Carolina. States have different names for living wills. In order to find more information about how to go about making a legal liv ing will, talk to your lawyer or visit http://www.uslegal- forms.com to find your state’s form. Writing your own livino will can now be done online. Terry Schiavo died without having a say in her final wish es. fier legal battle has encouraged many people to start think ing about having their final death wishes on paper. These final decisions should consist of legal documenta tion. A legal will is your new responsibility as a young adult. Let there be no more Terri Schiavo incidents. Contact Leigh Ann Vanscoy at pendiilum@elon.edu or 27R 7247.
Elon University Student Newspaper
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April 7, 2005, edition 1
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