VSED is a decision made by an adult with decision-making capacity to stop further intake of food and fluids with the goal of hastening their death. It is an intentional and voluntary (non-coerced) choice to hasten death by a person with decision-making capacity who suffers intolerably from an incurable and progressive, or terminal illness. VSED is distinguished from the usual diminished appetite often experienced by persons close to death in that it is a conscious decision to speed the dying process. It has been a traditional means of dying in the home for generations and is often thought of as a “natural” way of dying. While it is rarely a suffering person’s first choice to hasten death, it is often the only legal means available for patient-controlled dying.

For more information, please visit http://endoflifechoicesny.org/education/resources/vsed/

January 3, 2022

What is voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED)?

VSED is a decision made by an adult with decision-making capacity to stop further intake of food and fluids with the goal of hastening their death. […]
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What is the legal status of the Dementia Directive? Are there special considerations?

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What is included in the Dementia Directive?

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Who should consider completing the Dementia Directive?

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Why did End of Life Choices New York create the EOLCNY Dementia Directive?

Unfortunately, dementia is common and increasingly becoming more prevalent. Right now, about 10% of people 65 and older have Alzheimer’s disease, or another form of dementia, […]
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There are several dementia directives available, how do they differ and how should someone decide which to complete (e.g. geographic location, etc.)?

There are indeed a number of these documents available for use & or to compare. They are described in some detail in the appendices of the […]
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