Most Americans die in a hospital, nursing home, or other health care facility. Doctors who are charged with preserving life are generally legally powerless to provide other than minimum care due to their malpractice fears. The less than ideal doctor-patient care is further compounded by the fact the doctors run the risk of caring out actions that may be contrary to their patient’s wishes whilst unconscious. Consequently, the doctors look to family members with the legal authority for instructions and decisions.

The FBI indicates 3.7% rise in violent crimes throughout the USA during the first six months of 2006 in their ‘Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report’ (www.fbi.gov/publications.htm). This data, categorized by city’s of 100,000 and over in population, can be a valuable tool to law enforcement agency partners in their prevention of violent crime, murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, property crime, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson.