MyDyingPlan
A guided document to record your medical treatment preferences and the personal details that matter to you at the end of life. Give your loved ones and care team a clearer understanding of your wishes, so they have something to refer to if you can’t speak for yourself.
Your wishes, in your own words.
MyDyingPlan is a document, sometimes called a Living Will, that captures your decisions for medical treatment, care and comfort when you are dying and cannot speak for yourself. It is a form you fill in, with questions to answer and space to explain the experience you want. Making your choices clear helps doctors and carers understand how you would like to be cared for. It can also help relieve the burden on loved ones facing difficult decisions at an emotional time.
You don’t always know when you might need a plan.
You have a terminal diagnosis or are unwell.
Completing a dying plan may be top of mind. You want to make your treatment choices clear and define the experience you would like.
You’re getting older.
You may be thinking about your future care and wanting your loved ones to understand what matters to you.
You’ve had to make decisions for someone else.
You know how difficult it can be when someone’s wishes aren’t clear. You want to give the people close to you guidance about your own.
You want to be prepared.
You don’t have to wait until you are unwell. You can take time now to think about your wishes, write them down and share them.
What’s included in MyDyingPlan?
Make your treatment choices clear.
Work through questions about the medical care you would or would not want in different situations, including a terminal condition, permanent coma or advanced illness or injury.
The document includes explanations of medical terms, choices to consider and space for additional instructions.
Examples of what you can record:
- Your preferences for life support, tube feeding and resuscitation.
- Pain relief and help with symptoms such as nausea or anxiety.
- Your wishes about organ donation.
Define the experience you want.
The way you are cared for and the space around you matter too. MyDyingPlan gives you room to explain what would help you feel comfortable and how you would like people to treat you.
Examples of what you can record:
- Whether you would like quiet, or chatter, music and laughter.
- Your preferences for lighting, fresh air, scents and photographs.
- Whether you would like your hand held and to be talked to, even if you cannot respond.
Help others understand what matters to you.
Share your values and beliefs, who you would like around you and what you want your loved ones to know.
These personal details help doctors, carers, family and friends understand you and the way you would like to be cared for.
Examples of what you can record:
- Who should be contacted if you cannot communicate.
- Who you do or don’t want around you or involved in discussions.
- Spiritual support you would welcome, and whether you would like your pet nearby.
How it works
01. Choose your format
Select a version to complete and save on your computer, or a version to print and fill in by hand.
02. Reflect and record.
Work through the questions at your own pace. You don’t need to finish in one sitting, and you can involve someone you trust. Discuss medical treatment choices with your healthcare professional. Sign and date your completed plan.
03. Discuss and share
Talk through your wishes with loved ones, your care team and your attorney for personal care and welfare, if you have one. Give copies to the people who may need to refer to it, including your GP and other relevant healthcare providers.
04. Review as life changes
Your wishes may change. Revisit your plan, sign and date any updated version, and share it again so people have your current wishes.
A plan you can take one step at a time.
MyDyingPlan
MyDyingPlan gives you peace of mind knowing that when you are dying your loved ones and carers know what you want so you can have the dying experience you want. Your MyDyingPlan (MDP) is your final opportunity to have your say about your medical and personal decisions.
Explore MyDyingPlan →
MyDeathDoula
The MyDeathDoula service works alongside the person who is dying and their loved ones to create a space where you can be fully supported through your final living experience. With the right knowledge and a combination of spiritual and emotional care, this process can bring deep rewards, allowing you to simply "be" in the sacred space of transition. This approach can help ease the stress and anxiety often associated with the end-of-life journey.
Explore MyDeathDoula →
ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT
You don’t have to work through it on your own.
MyDyingPlan is designed to be straightforward, but thinking about death can bring up emotions and questions. Our paid one-on-one support helps you explore your wishes and work through your documents, so you leave with a completed plan or a clear way forward.
Helping you through life’s difficult conversations
Joanne and Deborah founded Dying Matters after their own experiences with death and dying showed them how much thoughtful planning and support can matter.
Together, they’re helping people feel more informed, more prepared and more comfortable having conversations about death. Get to know the people behind Dying Matters, their experiences and what brought them to this work.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you have more questions about DyingMatters, please head to our FAQ page.
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No. You can begin thinking about your wishes at any stage of life. Planning while you’re well gives you time to consider what matters, talk with the people close to you and record your preferences.
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MyDyingPlan is a document that helps you record your personal and medical preferences. MyDeathDoula provides personal guidance and practical, emotional and spiritual support for someone approaching the end of life and those close to them.
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Yes. Our one-on-one support helps you work through your documents, ask questions and explore your choices at your pace. You don’t need to have all the answers before you begin.
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You don’t need to choose before getting in touch. Tell us a little about your situation and what you’re looking for, and we’ll help you understand the options available.
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