Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED) 

This was part of our End of Life Education Series that took place in June of 2022.
Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED)
with Debra Johnson, MA EOLD CSCC
Learning Objectives:
• Understand the process of using VSED as its legal statute as a way to end one’s life
• Clarify what VSED is and what VSED is not
• Gain knowledge of the many challenges in using VSED
• Examine the experience of suffering and why VSED is a choice for certain individuals as a way to end life
• Stimulate thought and reflection on how VSED is misconstrued as an act of suicide
• Illustrate and distinguish the 4 Principles of Healthcare Ethics that create a division amongst healthcare professionals and their role in support of VSED.
Debra Lyn Johnson, MA, EOLD, CSCC currently works as one of the team volunteers in Southern Oregon with End of Life Choices Oregon where she provides education, guidance, and support for individuals wishing to pursue medical aid in dying. She is also the team liaison for inquiries regarding information and guidance on the use of VSED - Voluntarily Stop Eating and Drinking. She is passionate about her work with death and dying and advocates for being prepared, thinking deeply about what one values in life and encourages open and honest discussions about how one would like to die when their time comes. Recently certified as an End of Life Doula, she is working to build her practice in Southern Oregon. Debra holds a master’s degree in Gerontology from San Francisco State University; is a certified End of Life Doula (EOLD) , and was certified through California Pacific Medical Center as a Spiritual Care Companion in 2008 and worked as a spiritual care companion at Marin General hospital within the Chaplain’s department. She worked as a Geriatric Care Manager in the San Francisco area for 15 years before relocating to Ashland in 2016.
To learn more about End of Life Choices Oregon: eolcoregon.org
To find out more about the Oregon Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative, please visit: www.oregonbhi.org