Clinical and personal videos about VSED
Videos about VSED
As part of our mission, VSED Resources Northwest provides in-person and online VSED training sessions for doulas and others, many of which we record. We also collect the personal stories of those who have chosen VSED so that others can learn from their experiences. This page serves as a repository for training resources as well as for personal narratives.
To share a VSED story with us, or to schedule a training on the VSED process, visit Contact Us.
Video Training Resources
An Introduction to Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED)
October 2025. VRNW board member Kate Christie recently offered an introduction to VSED via Zoom to a residential facility in California. The presentation focused on general aspects of voluntarily stopping eating and drinking, including the basics of VSED, who chooses this end-of-life option, how to plan and prepare for VSED, and how her parents both used VSED to hasten their deaths from Alzheimer’s (her mother) and Lewy Body dementia (her father). The video pairs the audio with the PowerPoint slides from her presentation and is available on the VRNW channel on Vimeo.
Voluntarily Stopping Eating & Drinking as a Viable End-of-Life Option
March 2023. The Hemlock Society of San Diego hosted this panel presentation on Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED) as an alternative choice for terminally ill, mentally competent patients to hasten the end of life. Guest speakers were Kate Christie and Andrea Fenwick from VSED Resources Northwest, and Dr. Donald J. Moore Jr., a San Diego physician who specializes in hospice and palliative care.
Whatcom County Death Cafe – VSED 101 Presentation with Q&A
September 2021. The Death Café of Whatcom County provides a space to explore taboos about death, learn how to write a health care directive, explore the mysteries of what comes after death, and much more. In September 2021, with the support of WWU’s Palliative Care Institute, Nancy Simmers of VRNW presented “VSED 101” to the group.
PCI Webinar: Supporting Your Patients Who Choose VSED
May 2021. This 2-hour webinar is intended to be an introduction to the end-of-life choice Voluntary Stopping of Eating and Drinking (VSED), and explores moral, medical, and legal issues that arise for patients, their families, and medical providers. Co-sponsored by WWU’s Palliative Care Institute, A Sacred Passing, VSED Resources NW, End of Life Washington, and The Northwest Washington Medical Society; published by WWU’s ATUS Video Services.
Personal Videos
Rosemary Bowen’s Fast
In 2018, at age 94, Rosemary Bowen hastened her death by voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED). This video documents the day-to-day process of Rosemary’s fast and eventual death. Published on End of Life Choices New York’s YouTube channel.
Jane’s VSED Journey
Hear from Jane’s daughter, Jen, and from Jane herself about her decision to end her life via VSED in order to avoid the late stages of Alzheimer’s. Published on VSED Resources Northwest’s Vimeo channel.
Frank’s VSED Journey
Hear from Josselyn and Frank Winslow about his decision to end his life peacefully by stopping eating and drinking once his vascular dementia had advanced. Published on VSED Resources Northwest’s Vimeo channel.
Cindy’s VSED Statement
Cindy, a palliative care physician, explains her reasons for choosing VSED to avoid the long, unpredictable progression of dementia. This video was published publicly by End of Life Washington.
Jamesa Noelle’s VSED Story
Hear from Jamesa and her friend Lois about her decision to voluntarily stop eating and drinking after a 10-year struggle with a traumatic brain injury and other health challenges. This video was created to support a webinar on VSED sponsored by the Palliative Care Institute at Western Washington University.