VSED (voluntary stopping eating & drinking)
Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking (VSED) is often considered as the end of life option of last resort.
It has been included in the Essentials because there may be occasions where it remains the only available choice. It is important, therefore, to understand the risks (and possible benefits) of the process.
In practice, VSED is very simple: one simply stops eating any food and drinking any fluid.
If one persists, death is certain. However, there is immense variability in how long death will take and how difficult the process will be.
The older and sicker a person, the more likely they will die within 14 days.
For this reason, VSED is best suited to the elderly and frail who are of sound mind and strongly motivated.
Timeline of VSED Death
There is great variability in the time it takes for a VSED death to occur. The more frail you are, and the greater your conviction to refuse all fluids, the quicker death will come. In this period you will need full time nursing care/ support from family and friends.
In the first few days of cessation, a person will be able to continue to live much as before. Movement will not be overly impeded and pleasant company can be enjoyed.
It is towards the end of these critical first few days that some people wil change their mind. If one does persevere, after several days the VSED symptoms will be impossible to ignore.
The mouth will become dry and painful and weakness will set in. The person may also experience confusion and even hallucination as one lapses in and out of consciousness.
This period can be particularly difficult for friends and family who are present and watching the process. As one nears death, loss of consciousness will be complete.
No further communication will be possible.
The person’s skin may also change colour. Breathing may become intermittent. There may be audible moaning and a ‘death rattle’ (identifiable gurgle). Cardiac failure and respiratory arrest lead to the death
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