Where there's a will

Since the United States Supreme Court decision in the Cruzan case, there will be more use of living wills which authorize the discontinuance of medical treatment for the terminally ill. Nutrition and hydration have been included as medical treatment in some cases. The statutes which authorize these documents provide that they can be revoked. Medical personnel who may be in close contact with patients and their families, such as nurses and social workers, should be trained in the provisions of living wills and what can amount to their revocation.