Consider making a living will

One of the ways you can help reassure your family and friends about the end of your life, even as death approaches, is to draw up a living will. It brings you peace of mind, as it makes clear how you want to die.

The living will – also known as the advance directive – makes clear what treatments you do not want if you are seriously ill in the future and cannot let anyone know what you want to happen. A living will can help you to die well.

Many people fear that if they become ill, they could face a situation where they are given overzealous treatment when there is little or no chance of recovery. Or treatment that would leave them in a condition they couldn’t cope with.

A living will brings you the comfort that, under clearly defined circumstances, you will not be given treatments such as antibiotics, tube feeding or life-support.

You never know what is around the corner or what lies in the future. By the time you find out, it may be too late to make decisions for yourself as you are not physically or mentally able. This leaves friends and family with difficult decisions to make about your treatment, hampered by not knowing what you want. A living will avoids that.

The British Medical Association, The Royal College of Nursing and the Government have all backed living wills. Any patient entering hospital in the US is asked to register views on resuscitation, so that action in accordance with their wishes will be taken should an emergency like a cardiac arrest occur – even if you cannot tell the doctors your decision at the time.

The living will has two further advantages. It lets you discuss your views calmly with doctors treating you and with family and friends long before a decision has to be taken.

And it also gives you the opportunity to discuss difficult issues with family and friends without any pressure.