The subject of Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking (VSED) is slowly gaining ground in public perception and mainstream healthcare. This form of hastening death carries significant ethical weight and should be considered carefully by healthcare providers so they can examine and clarify their own moral standing on this issue. First we define what VSED is and is not and then addresses the legal and ethical aspects of VSED. We then ask if VSED is a moral and ethical option for patients who have a terminal illness, what are the obligations and responsibilities of healthcare providers to terminal patients who ask “what are my end of life options?” The current medical standard for end of life care may provide an answer.
Voluntary Stopping of…show more content… Thus, what obligations do healthcare providers have to terminal patients who want to utilize VSED? I maintain those providers who have no moral or religious objection to a terminal patient hastening death may ethically assist terminal patients with this end of life option. On the other hand, I do not believe healthcare providers are ethically required to assist terminal patients with VSED because in the United states VSED is currently not a part the standard of end of life…show more content… I support VSED as an ethical option for terminally ill patients who have unrelenting suffering and all palliative care attempts have proven unsuccessful. However, VSED is currently not part of the medical standard of care at end of life so providers are not obligated to participate and need to reach their own moral decision about the acceptability of this practice. Perspective and actions by healthcare providers will be guided by their own personal, cultural, and/or religious beliefs. For those providers who do choose to participate further guidelines and recommendations can ensure this end of life option is implemented in an ethical and clinically appropriate manner. “Healthcare professionals never know when they will be faced with such an ethical dilemma, and it is incumbent upon then to be aware of their own views and to clarify their moral values on the subject.”
