Putting your affairs in order

Making a will

It is not morbid to be concerned about what will happen to your possessions after your death, nor will it hasten your death. It is a thoughtful and effective way of taking care of the people you love and it will spare them painful decisions, bureaucratic hassles and financial hardship which may occur if you do not make your wishes clear. You may also find that once you have put your affairs in order, your mind is cleared of many niggling little worries, leaving you free to enjoy the present.

Making a will is not as expensive or difficult as you might think, but it is a legal document and must be properly prepared. It is usually better to use a solicitor who will be able to help with the precise wording to accurately convey your wishes and ensure that they are carried out exactly as you intended. NB This is not the same in France

Living wills and making choices

As the law stands, assisted suicide and all similar processes whereby one person hastens another's death are illegal. Although your doctor and nurses can ensure that you are receiving enough pain relief to keep you comfortable, it is illegal for them to give you more than you need with the intention of ending your life more quickly.

However, there are other important choices which you can make in the late stages of your disease. You can decide in advance what treatment you will refuse, for example that if you have a sudden deterioration, your breathing stops or your heart stops, you do not want to be resuscitated.

If you are in hospital, the doctors may discuss this with you. You can also decide that if you are severely ill and develop an infection, you do not want to prolong your life by taking antibiotics. You can discuss these things with your relatives and the medical team looking after you, and formalise your wishes in a 'living will'.

A living will or advance directive allows you to leave instructions about your possible medical treatment in case there comes a time when you are no longer capable of making decisions or communicating them. It allows you to say no to a particular treatment, but can't be used to force your medical team to provide a particular treatment. There is no law that governs the use of living wills. However, in common law refusing treatment beforehand will have a legal effect as long as:

• you are over 18
• the will was made when you were mentally able
• you had not been pressurised or influenced in your decision
• you are now unconscious or otherwise unfit to make a decision.

From your close relatives' point of view, things may seem very different to your own perspective. For example they may treasure every possible minute of your life, even though you may be in a coma or unable to respond to them. If possible, it is good to have an honest and open discussion with your partner, relative or closest friend in advance, so that they know and understand your wishes.

It is important to understand that living wills are entirely different from voluntary euthanasia and assisted dying. These are controversial and cause many strong feelings.

Living wills by contrast are widely accepted as a humane, sensible way of following the true wishes of people who are dying. A number of recent judgements have upheld living wills. The concept of living wills is supported by the British Medical Association, the Patients' Association, the Royal College of Nursing and the Government.