Annals of family medicine
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Annals of family medicine · Nov 2023
Patients Who Seek to Hasten Death by Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking: A Qualitative Study.
Voluntary stopping of eating and drinking (VSED) is a controversial method to hasten death. Little is known about why and how people come to VSED. This study assessed patients' motives, how patients decide on VSED, and the ways in which they prepare for VSED and involve others. ⋯ Patients embarking on a trajectory toward VSED are a very diverse group, with different care needs. Guidance for care during VSED needs to be applicable to all 3 groups.
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"I'm already in so much pain, I was stuck in the car for hours, and now I have to see a student instead of my doctor?" She scoffs, crosses her arms, and looks away. Trying to understand why she is in so much pain I ask, "Are you happy with the care you're receiving?" She looks at me for the first time and I see her shoulders drop. The response that followed is one I will never forget, and is part of a larger lesson I learned involving the power of open-ended questions and their ability to foster understanding of patients in the context of their life stories. Here, I share patient stories and the 7 words that taught me the gift of genuine curiosity.