October 30, 2003

Florida Medical Directors Association Does Not Support Legislative Involvement in Schiavo Case

West Palm Beach, Fla. – Florida Medical Directors Association (FMDA) supports the right of an individual and his or her designated decision-maker to refuse unwanted medical interventions. This right is supported by U.S. law, Florida law, and decades of consideration in medical ethics. A decision to withhold or withdraw life-supporting measures is a difficult, complex and often wrenching clinical determination. This decision should be left up to patients, family members, and health care providers.

FMDA believes that the Florida legislature should not interfere in this process. House Bill 35-E (to be published as public law 03-418), requires written advance directives and allows any family member (even an individual who the patient may have specifically excluded) to challenge a decision of a designated decision-maker regarding artificial hydration and nutrition. Most people do not complete an advance directive, yet entrust a loved one to speak for them if they become unable to speak for themselves. Requiring judicial and executive review of complex end-of-life decisions is an unnecessary intrusion into the private affairs of a patient and family – at a most vulnerable time. We believe, therefore, that this bill is unwise and should be overturned.

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The Florida Medical Directors Association represents nearly 250 medical directors, attending physicians, physician assistants, and advanced registered nurse practitioners in Florida’s postacute care continuum including subacute care, hospice, skilled nursing, and assisted living facilities, as well as in continuing care retirement communities. The mission of FMDA is to promote the highest quality care in the postacute care continuum by providing leadership, professional education and advocacy.
 

Contact: Ian Cordes, Executive Director
Florida Medical Directors Association
(561) 371-2586, ian.cordes@fmda.org