The first study of its kind has recently been carried out by the Imperial College School of Medicine in London, which specialises in looking into care of the elderly.

This study asked elderly people what were their concerns for the future as they became less and less able to take decisions for themselves.

A group between the ages of 66 and 97 was interviewed at some length and one of the things which was of considerable interest to many of them was the concept of a "living will".

When asked their views on such a document, many had no clear idea of what it entailed.

When it was explained, they saw it as an excellent way to protect themselves against some of the problems of being labelled 'do not resuscitate' or alternatively being force-fed antibiotics when all they wanted was to be allowed to die with dignity.

A Living Will is also known as an Advance Directive and although in this country such a document is not covered by any Act of Parliament, it has the force of common law behind it.

It is made when you are in full possession of your faculties, properly witnessed and sets out clearly the conditions under which you wish to have no further treatment other than being made comfortable and out of pain.

Many of those interviewed thought that it was linked to euthanasia, something which worried a number of those interviewed, who said they were afraid that it was already practised in this country.

When it was explained that a living will gives you some control over your future treatment when you may be too unwell to take such decisions, they became very interested and asked to know more.

There were many situations in which they felt they did not wish to have their lives prolonged.

Being bed bound, doubly incontinent, unable to speak or communicate with their families or suffering from dementia were situations which clearly worried many of those interviewed.

Length of life was clearly secondary to the quality of life they might expect.

Something which commended the idea to many of them was the fact that it removed hard decisions from their immediate family at a time when they were under a lot of emotional pressure.

Who is going to say, 'I want my mother/father to be allowed to die with no further treatment other than being kept warm and comfortable'?

But if the family has a copy of a relative's wishes, set out clearly when he or she was able to take rational decisions, it takes all the pressure out of what is, in any event, a very stressful time.

The Voluntary Euthanasia Society is quoted as saying that it receives about 1,000 applications a week for a standard form for a living will, but one of the doctors involved with the research said they saw very few living wills on hospital wards for the elderly.

It is clearly something about which information might be given to older folk to set their minds at rest over the future.

I made a living will a few years ago. My GP has a copy, as do my solicitor and my family and I have threatened to come back and haunt them if they ignore my wishes. Believe me, I do not jest!