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Stopping eating and drinking
1Compassion and Choices, USA. judithschwarz@earthlink.net
The American Journal of Nursing
|August 26, 2009
Summary
Voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) is an end-of-life option for patients wishing to hasten death. This practice raises ethical questions for healthcare professionals, particularly nurses.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Palliative Care
- End-of-Life Studies
Background:
- Voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) is increasingly discussed as a patient-chosen method to hasten dying.
- This option is considered for decisionally capable, suffering patients seeking to control their end-of-life trajectory.
Observation:
- The author shares a clinical experience to illustrate the process of VSED.
- The abstract examines related clinical practices employed in hastening death.
Findings:
- The study explores the distinction between VSED and suicide.
- Ethical and legal considerations surrounding VSED are analyzed.
Implications:
- Nurses face complex ethical and legal challenges when involved with VSED.
- Understanding VSED is crucial for providing comprehensive end-of-life care and support.
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