Proposed Israeli law - The Terminal Patient 2002, based on five principles:
“* Absolute ban on active termination of a patient's life

* Conferral of permission to refrain from providing life-prolonging treatment, when three basic conditions are met: the patient has a terminal condition; the patient suffers greatly; the patient doesn't not want to defer his or her death. This permission authorizes a decision not to put a patient on a respirator, should the three conditions apply

* For the first time, doctors in Israel will have a legal duty to provide medication to relieve suffering of terminally ill patients

* There is an obligation to conduct a clear, candid discussion with the patient, or his or her delegates

* Authorities can comply to written instructions provided by a patient, so long as the conditions noted above are in force.”

This is a tough issue in Israel because of Jewish beliefs about the sanctity of life and the unbending religious stand on suicide. They seem to have found an innovative solution to the problem of taking someone off a respirator: The respirator will stop after a set period, and it will be possible not to turn it on again.

This is a link to "Lilach - The Israeli Society to Live and Die with Dignity", a non-profit organization that helps Israelis who wish to sign a living will. It’s a Hebrew site, but it does offer some English articles here.