There is sometimes common law marriage here too, but it gets complicated and varies from state to state.
Quote:
Originally Posted by RMJ
But it should not be. You or I or most of the people here and everywhere are not capable of making such decisions
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Often when it becomes a question of ethics, though, doctors won't have a particular stance on what should be done. They can tell you the facts, but that doesn't always spell out the exact course of action. I don't know about Finland, but here a doctor is not your dictator. He tells you what options you have, and the pros and cons of each, and then its up to you to decide what to do.
This is especially important in cases of mental illness, another instance where this law comes into play. Treatment for these can often be as bad as the disease itself, and deciding what to do is not a question of right or wrong, but a question of lifestyle choice. If the person is too ill to decide for themselves, someone needs to be there who can legally speak for them.