Patting the wrists, rolling the eyes.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
While Bilmore's point about "sign the paper" is a fair one in principle, it rather buries one's head in the sand for the many instances when no one bothered.

Not in my mind. I say "sign the damn paper" partially because my position when it's not signed is that we cannot adequately determine the person's intent, and so should always err on the side of life.

Of course, if all survivors are in agreement, it's an easier call. But, when husband says "she told me once ten years ago that she would want to die in this situation", and parents and sibs strongly disagree, I don't think we should be making the decision that was made here without her signed written instrument. It errs the wrong way.