Legal professionals say many Michiganders may not realize they now have more control over their end-of-life decisions, even during pregnancy, following a recent court ruling.

his month, a Michigan judge struck down a law that had prevented patient advocates from following a person’s documented wishes to withdraw life-sustaining treatment if that patient was pregnant.

Jess Pezley, a senior staff attorney at Compassion and Choices, noted the judge found that the law violated the state’s constitutional protections for reproductive rights.

"If people who are drafting their advance directives and who are capable of pregnancy don't know that they have this power," she said, "if they are ever incapacitated, they're not going to include that in their advance directive."

Supporters say the ruling restores individual medical decision-making. But others counter that states have a legitimate interest in protecting potential fetal life and point out that decisions involving pregnancy and end-of-life care can raise complex legal, medical and ethical questions.

Constitutional experts also y the law created confusion, because it could override a person’s end-of-life wishes - even if those decisions were clearly documented.

"There was a restriction in the law applying to these patient advocates that said that they could not refuse life-sustaining treatment on behalf of a patient if they were pregnant," Pezley said, "no matter what the person's advanced directive said."

No matter what side of the debate people are on, Pezley said advance directives are gifts to families faced with making final decisions.

"If your family is in a situation where they are having to make decisions on your behalf," she said, "it's such a gift for them to know that they're making the right decision."

Source: Public News Service