Uniform Rights of the Terminally Ill Act
Encyclopedia
The Uniform Rights of the Terminally Ill Act (1985, revised 1989), has been recommended as a Uniform Act
in the United States
, and subsequently been passed by many states. The law allows a person to declare a living will
specifying that, if the situation arises, he or she does not wish to be kept alive through life support
if terminally ill or in a coma
. The patient may also obtain a health care power of attorney
. This power of attorney appoints an agent to make medical decision for the patient in case the patient becomes incompetent.
Many people make use of this act because they do not wish to endure any pain or suffering if weakened by a fatal disease. They want to "die with dignity," so that family members will not have to go through emotional pain of watching their loved one sleep through many years of life with no response to any stimuli.
This form of death is known as passive euthanasia
, where death is not inflicted with drugs, but is allowed by cutting off life support.
Uniform Act
In the United States, a Uniform Act is a proposed state law drafted by the U.S. Uniform Law Commission and approved by its sponsor, the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws ....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and subsequently been passed by many states. The law allows a person to declare a living will
Living will
An advance health care directive, also known as living will, personal directive, advance directive, or advance decision, are instructions given by individuals specifying what actions should be taken for their health in the event that they are no longer able to make decisions due to illness or...
specifying that, if the situation arises, he or she does not wish to be kept alive through life support
Life support
Life support, in medicine is a broad term that applies to any therapy used to sustain a patient's life while they are critically ill or injured. There are many therapies and techniques that may be used by clinicians to achieve the goal of sustaining life...
if terminally ill or in a coma
Coma
In medicine, a coma is a state of unconsciousness, lasting more than 6 hours in which a person cannot be awakened, fails to respond normally to painful stimuli, light or sound, lacks a normal sleep-wake cycle and does not initiate voluntary actions. A person in a state of coma is described as...
. The patient may also obtain a health care power of attorney
Power of attorney
A power of attorney or letter of attorney is a written authorization to represent or act on another's behalf in private affairs, business, or some other legal matter...
. This power of attorney appoints an agent to make medical decision for the patient in case the patient becomes incompetent.
Many people make use of this act because they do not wish to endure any pain or suffering if weakened by a fatal disease. They want to "die with dignity," so that family members will not have to go through emotional pain of watching their loved one sleep through many years of life with no response to any stimuli.
This form of death is known as passive euthanasia
Euthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
, where death is not inflicted with drugs, but is allowed by cutting off life support.