In his article on pre-mortal provision in the BMJ of 2 June, Douglas Black shows his customary wisdom when he points out that, in making a living will, it is not possible to be sure that convictions will remain unchanged.1 How right he is, as I now know to my own satisfaction and happiness.

At noon on January 12 this year I began to experience pain in the right iliac fossa, which quickly crescendoed. I lay on the sofa and applied the 13 questions required for the elucidation of any pain of unclear origin.2 On examination there was tenderness on release. Appendicitis and Meckel's diverticulitis could be excluded because both had been operated on in 1970. The pain …