Voluntary Stopping Eating Drinking

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Summary

In Kentucky, competent adults can voluntarily stop eating and drinking as a personal medical decision. Medical providers must ensure informed consent. Living wills can specify refusal of life-prolonging treatment. Consult legal and medical professionals for detailed guidance.

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what happens when someone commits themselves to a hospital or hospice for voluntarily stopping eating and drinking?
In Kentucky, if a competent adult voluntarily decides to stop eating and drinking, it's generally considered a personal decision. Yet, such decisions could raise ethical concerns for medical providers. Would you like to know about specific laws or procedures in Kentucky?
yes
In Kentucky, the law respects an individual's autonomy to make health care decisions. Here's a brief overview:
- Informed consent: Medical providers must ensure patients understand the potential consequences of their decisions.
- Advance directives: A legally-binding document that outlines the individual's wishes regarding treatment if they're unable to make decisions.
- Living will: A type of advance directive that indicates what life-prolonging measures an individual wants or doesn't want.
Would you like more specific information?
so patients are allowed to die with a living will?
Yes, in Kentucky, a living will can specify the individual's wish to refuse life-prolonging treatment. This could include the decision to stop eating and drinking. However, it's crucial to consult with a medical and legal professional to understand the implications fully.
i thought it was a form of suicide?
In Kentucky, a person's decision to voluntarily stop eating and drinking, if they're competent and have provided an informed consent, is usually seen as a personal medical decision, rather than suicide. However, it's a complex issue that may require professional legal advice.