title: Living will does not resolve medical-ethical-legal dilemma.
abstract: The Living Will is an ethically acceptable document that serves to convey a patient's attitude toward terminal illness and to facilitate a physician's decision not to prolong the dying process. But in a Christian context, the Christian Affirmation of Life is a superior document by which to express and aid such decision making. Because the Living Will advances the concept of negative euthanasia--an ethical, legal, and political misnomer--and abets the effort to legalize positive or direct euthanasia, it should not be given legal recognition. As a legal document, the Living Will could seriously affect both patients and physicians.
mesh_terms: D002410:Catholicism; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D005065:Euthanasia; D006801:Humans; D007603:Jurisprudence; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D013727:Terminal Care; D014481:United States; D014918:Wills