Congressman Speaks On Texas Living Wills

burgess.house.gov, Jan 19, 2006

The right-to-life is something I stand firmly behind. As Congress has worked over the past several weeks to secure the jurisdiction of federal courts to review the circumstances concerning Terri Schiavo’s case, I am careful to remember that this situation has been a battle for the Schiavo family for 15 years.

As a doctor, I cannot stress enough the importance of having a living will or advance directive. It is your freedom to direct your doctors or physicians to which treatments you will or won’t accept for conditions of which there is little or no hope of recovery.

What happens if you don’t provide a living will for your family?
The stress associated with making these crucial decisions for a loved one can tear a family apart.