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Responding to suffering: providing options and respecting choice
1Department of Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont 05451-8671, USA. zailberry@mac.com
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
|November 10, 2009
Summary
Voluntary stopping of eating and drinking (VSED) can be a legal option for individuals seeking to hasten death. Discussing VSED may offer therapeutic benefits for terminally ill patients experiencing intractable suffering.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Palliative Care
Background:
- Voluntary stopping of eating and drinking (VSED) is a method some individuals consider to hasten death.
- The ethical and practical considerations of VSED are subjects of ongoing discussion.
Observation:
- A case study details a woman who chose VSED to alleviate intractable suffering.
- This case highlights the complex decisions faced by patients nearing the end of life.
Findings:
- Physicians face potential benefits and harms when discussing VSED with patients.
- The discussion of VSED can be a valuable component of end-of-life care.
Implications:
- Healthcare providers should consider VSED as a potential therapeutic option for patients with intractable suffering.
- Integrating VSED discussions into palliative care requires careful ethical consideration and patient-centered support.
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