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Life Planning Should be Life Affirming PLW Promotes "Protective Medical Decisions Document (PMDD)"
PLW Letterhead

Wednesday, November 26, 2003


Contact: Matt Sande, Director of Legislative Affairs
(262) 352-0890 or
Peggy Hamill, State Director
(262) 796-1111 or (414) 416-0489

Life Planning Should be Life Affirming
PLW Promotes “Protective Medical Decisions Document (PMDD)”


As Governor Jim Doyle has proclaimed November 24 to 28, 2003, to be “Life Planning Week” in the State of Wisconsin, Pro-Life Wisconsin (PLW) would like to promote use of the Wisconsin Protective Medical Decisions Document (PMDD) as a life-affirming tool that people can use to plan responsibly for future health care needs.

The PMDD is an advance directive; a health care power of attorney that complies with Wisconsin law in which you can name someone you trust to make health care decisions for you if you are ever permanently or temporarily unable to make decisions for yourself. What distinguishes the PMDD from other advance directives is that it specifically prohibits euthanasia (an action or omission intended to cause death) and assisted suicide as end-of-life options. It makes it clear that your agent/representative does not have the authority to approve the intentional ending of your life.

For example, your agent may not direct that you be denied food or fluids for the purpose of causing your death by starvation or dehydration. Further, your agent may not authorize that you be given a lethal injection or an intentional drug overdose. Such limitations on your agent’s authority not only protect you but protect your agent from undue pressure to authorize such actions or omissions.

“There is no legitimate ‘right-to-die’,” said Julie Grimstad, Director of the Center for the Rights of the Terminally Ill and a member of PLW’s speakers bureau. “While we do have the right to refuse burdensome medical treatment, that right should be exercised in a morally responsible fashion. It should not be used to intentionally kill ourselves. The PMDD is by far the best protection against euthanasia.”

Drafted by the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide, the Wisconsin PMDD is available through the Pro-Life Wisconsin State Office: (262)-796-1111, or info@prolifewisconsin.org.

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