Look for some pathetic "human interest" stories to emerge in January. Stories
about folks who would have pulled the plug in November, but instead electing to
keep loved ones on life support into the new year.

Just as bad - or perhaps worse - if Congress fails to act before the end of
2010: Stories about "greedy" heirs conceiving strategies to accelerate the
demise of terminally ill (or possibly healthy) grantors.

The quotes around "greedy" qualify the life-defining tensions that hang in the
balance: The millions of dollars that will be at stake in many estates, on the
one hand - weighed on the other hand against ethical and emotional
considerations, as well as the legal minefield.

I feel sorry for those who may, through no fault of their own, find themselves
in this untenable situation. I am thankful that I will not be one of them.

Posted by Peter Miller on Dec. 31, 2009 at 09:50 AM