title: Legal Considerations in End-of-Life Decisionmaking in Louisiana.
abstract: End-of-life directives are among the most difficult decisions that a patient or a patient's family makes because of the many moral, ethical, legal, and practical considerations. This article addresses the basic legal framework in Louisiana for end-of-life directives. Although Louisiana law provides a framework for addressing end-of-life issues, the law does not dictate outcomes or decisions. The law is often the refuge of last resort, providing unsatisfactory results. End-of-life care decisions are generally most productive when they are based on discussions between patients, their families, and their care team regarding the patient's wishes.
authors.affiliation: Office of Legal Affairs and Risk Management, Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koppel
authors.forename: Shelley M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sullivan