X-Message-Number: 904 Date: Mon, 15 Jun 1992 17:13 MST From: Subject: CRYONICS NEW ARIZONA LAW EXPANDS RIGHTS OF THE TERMINALLY ILL An article in the June 14 issue of The Arizona Republic describes a new Arizona law which allows a person to define ahead of time the medical procedures to be used or avoided in case he suffers serious injury or illness and as a result becomes unable to direct the course of his medical treatment. House Bill 2247, signed into law by Gov. Symington on June 11, repeals a 1991 law dealing with living wills and replaces it with one that provides legal protection to health workers who are carrying out the wishes of a patient. The new measure allows a person to make a "pre-hospital directive" instructing his health care providers to take certain actions, or avoid taking actions, in attempting to resuscitate him. People will be able to wear special orange bracelets that will alert emergency medical crews to the existence of such a directive. The law provides for the creation of living wills and assignment of medical power of attorney and greatly expands the options of terminally ill patients. The bill specifically states, however, that it is not a euthanasia law, and does not provide for suicide or mercy killing. Senator Stan Furman (D-Glendale), a strong supporter of the new law, said that under the previous measure "if you were brain dead, they could keep you alive forever." The bill protects the rights of those who want to be kept alive by any means, whether for relgious or personal reasons, and those who want to avoid such means. Under HB2247, a person's living will supersedes the wishes of family members. Rep. Susan Gerard (R-north Phoenix), the bill's primary sponsor, said that "You can make one (a living will) out that says you want everything done to you. You can be put in a freezer if you want." I am obtaining a copy of the new law and will post more details on Cryonet as they become available.-----Mark Voelker Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=904