I saw the well acclaimed movie, “The Descendants”, last night. It was ok – not great, a little slow, and sometimes over the top. But it’s one of those movies that makes you think. About love, money, parenting, life and death.
While my movie companion thought the scenes between father and daughters revolving around their dying mother’s adultry were very unrealistic, I thought they were true to life and depicted a father-husband dealing with shock, grief, anger, and fear. After 24 years of practicing law and dealing with families during the hardest times in their lives, I thought George Clooney’s reactions and actions were completely understandable and probably not that uncommon. He certainly deserved my compassion.
Viewing the movie as an estate planning attorney, I was also struck with how important it was for the family that their dying mother had made her end of life issues clear and legal. She had prepared a health care advance directive and left no doubt that if she were in a vegetative state she would not “want to lay there and spoil like milk.” Her clear directives made it possible for the family to carry out her wishes and begin to move on with their lives. No one, not her parents, her brother, or her close friends, could take issue with Clooney’s actions to end his wife’s life support.
Advance health care directives and living wills are important for all of us at any age. Please call me for a consultation.
