What the Terry Schiavo case means for you

Michael Schiavo, the husband of Terry Schiavo, a disabled Florida woman being kept alive on a feeding tube, has been trying for years to exercise his marital rights and take her off the feeding tube. According to Michael Schiavo, his wife clearly stated to him that she would prefer to die than be kept in such a state. While the murky legal battles occuring over this battle are rare for married heterosexual couples (doctors usually comply with what the next of kin asks), they aren't so rare for gay and lesbian couples, and non-legally married straight couples. Without the protection of a marriage license, such a case wouldn't even make it to the courts. If you want your husband or wife to be the one making such decisions for you, consider going to a lawyer as part of your wedding planning process. Along with new wills, they can also help you draw up health care proxys and living wills, to help ensure your interests are carried out. Even if you are protected by a marriage license, consider doing the same thing. If Terry Schiavo had had these documents, I doubt this legal battle would have gotten to where it is today.