Quality of Death People With Terminal Illnesses are Turning to an Age-Old Method to End it All: Self-Starvation

Author

Kazi E. Awal, Cuny Graduate School of JournalismFollow
Alyssa Pagano, Cuny Graduate School of JournalismFollow

Graduation Date

Fall 12-16-2016

Grading Professor

Emily Laber-Warren

Subject Concentration

Health & Science

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Abstract

Voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) is getting more attention in the medical community. Though physician assisted dying legislation passed in two more states in 2016--there are now 7 states where it is legal--the practice, where doctors prescribe a lethal dose of sedatives so that terminally ill patients can end their own lives, is inaccessible to many. But fasting to death is a way for patients suffering from terminal illnesses or other debilitating diseases to end their lives on their own terms that is legal everywhere. As extreme as it sounds, research shows the process can be made comfortable with proper medical supervision. This story outlines the VSED experience of two characters and why they chose the practice, how the process occurs physically and logistically, the role physicians play in the process and how they feel about it, and some of the moral and ethical issues involved.

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Recommended Citation

Awal, Kazi E. and Pagano, Alyssa, "Quality of Death People With Terminal Illnesses are Turning to an Age-Old Method to End it All: Self-Starvation" (2016). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gj_etds/165