What Is a Terminal Condition?
A terminal condition, as defined by Minnesota law, is an incurable or irreversible condition for which the administration of medical treatment will only prolong the dying process. This broad definition covers many types of illness or injury, such as cancer, car accidents, and many other incapacitating illnesses. HOW DO I WRITE AN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE? Living Will/Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare Minnesota provides a special form that may be used. CAN I REVOKE OR CHANGE MY ADVANCE DIRECTIVE? You may change or revoke these documents at any time. Any alterations and any written revocation should be signed and dated, and copies should be given to your family, physician, and other appropriate people. Even without an official written change, your orally expressed direction to your physician generally has priority over any statement made in an Advance Directive. WHAT IF I DO NOT HAVE AN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE? The absence of an Advance Directive will not influence the quality of medical care
Under Iowa law, a terminal condition is defined as an incurable or irreversible condition that without life sustaining procedures, results in death within a relatively short time or a comatose state from which there can be no recovery, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty. WHAT ARE “LIFE-SUSTAINING” PROCEDURES? Under Iowa law, a life-sustaining procedure refers to any medical procedure of treatment that meets both of the following requirements: 1. The use of mechanical or artificial means to sustain, restore or take the place of a spontaneous vital function, and which, 2. When applied to a patient in a terminal condition, would serve only to prolong the dying process. In April, 1992, Iowa law was amended to include the withdrawal of nutrition and hydration as a life-sustaining procedure, but only when required to be provided parenterally or by intubation. Parenterally is defined as “something introduced to the body other than through the intestine.” It is important to note that
A terminal condition is an irreversible illness that will result in death in the near future, or a state of permanent unconsciousness from which recovery is unlikely. In most states, a terminal illness is one in which the patient will die “shortly” regardless of whether medical treatment is continued. But state definitions vary. Examples of terminal conditions include advanced cancers, head injuries, multiple organ failures, or massive heart attacks and strokes.
A Terminal Condition is defined as an incurable and irreversible condition caused by injury, disease, or illness, which would cause death within a reasonable period of time. If you are diagnosed to be in a terminal condition and you are unable to communicate in any way at the time, you are choosing whether you want life-sustaining treatment that would serve only to prolong the process of your dying.
