Importance of Living Wills to Protect Life
Please see below for our Rabbinically-approved Living Will which protects Gentiles against euthanasia. The following approbation was received by email from Rabbi Michael Broyde, Professor of Law, Emory University School of Law:
Rabbi Michael Broyde wrote
> Date: Wed, 30 Mar 2005 18:49 -0500
> From: Michael Broyde
> Subject: Re: Torah Law on “Living Wills” for Gentiles? – please advise
> To: Director of Ask Noah
>
> This is well done.
>
> Rabbi Broyde
>
>Rabbi Prof. Michael Broyde
>Professor of Law
>Emory Univ. School of Law
Original Message
On Wed, 30 Mar 2005 15:39:13 -0800 (PST) Director of Ask Noah wrote:
BS”D
Dear Rabbi Broyde,
Ask Noah International hopes to promote acceptable Living Wills for Gentiles. I would very much appreciate your input on this matter. If you see any changes that need to be made in my message below, or if you have any alternative text for the Gentile Living Will that you would prefer to be used, please send those to me at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Director,
Ask Noah International
www.asknoah.org
United Noahide Academies
Director of Ask Noah wrote
Date: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 14:43:00 -0800 (PST)
From: Director of Ask Noah
Subject: Re: Torah Law on “Living Wills” for Gentiles
A “Halachic” [i.e. consistent with Torah Law] Living Will has been prepared by Agudath Israel of America, and you can find their General Form, Wallet Card, and forms for specific States at the web site
All of these forms as they appear on the web site have been prepared for Jews who want to follow Torah Law as it applies to Jews. Some changes are needed, and some other changes are allowed, for Gentiles who want to follow Torah Law as it applies to Gentiles (a.k.a. Noahides, B’nai Noach, or Children of Noah).
For instance, there are some changes which would apply for a Gentile who wants to use the Living Will “General Form” which is on the web page
https://jlaw.com/Forms/hlw_general.html
PROXY AND DIRECTIVE WITH RESPECT TO HEALTH CARE DECISIONS AND POST-MORTEM DECISIONS
I am recommending the following emendations for Gentiles, as reviewed by an overseeing Orthodox Rabbi for my organization, Ask Noah International:
1) In SECTION 2, replace “I am Jewish” with “I am a Gentile”.
2) In SECTIONS 2, 3, 4 and 6, replace “Jewish law and custom” with “Jewish law as it pertains to Gentiles”.
3) In SECTION 5, replace the entire text with the following:
“Postmortem Decisions: It is also my desire, and I hereby direct, that after my death, all decisions concerning the handling and disposition of my body be made according to my following wishes…” [Here the Gentile should detail his or her personal wishes regarding:
– performance of an autopsy or dissection of the body;
– removal and usage of any of body organs or tissue for transplantation purposes;
– mode and desired time frame of disposition of the body, via burial or other specified means, and all desired preparations leading to the desired disposition of the body.
