Living Wills

Your editorial, “Living Wills: Do They Work?” (Aug. 13), covers several important and valid points, but one aspect was not mentioned: California declarations or durable power of attorney for health care forms are not effective in the event of a sudden emergency. Ambulance personnel are required to provide CPR unless they are provided with a separate non-hospital do not resuscitate (DNR) order. If this concerns you, ask your doctor or local hospital for more information about a non-hospital DNR order, contact Choice in Dying, 200 Varick St., New York, N.Y., 10014, or call (800) 989-WILL.

It would also be nice if the California Medical and State Bar associations would urge their members to make the California Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care forms available free to the public.

CAROL R. HURLEY

Pacific Palisades