This article discusses some of emerging debates surrounding VSED (voluntary stopping eating and drinking) advanced directives. People who expect that they might suffer from some form of dementia or other type of severe illness later in life might want to consider whether a VSED might be an option for them. A California Psychiatrist named Dr. Stanley Terman has created a “Natural Dying Living Will” that he promotes as a strategy to help people with advanced Alzheimer’s Dementia or those who are suffering from unbearable end-of-life pain. There are other advanced healthcare directives that can be made along with a VSED. John Schappi, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, describes his own personal advanced care directive that he plans to use.
See John Schappi, Creating a “VSED” Advanced Directive in Case of Future Dementia, Aging Care, September 3, 2015.
