We are VSED advocates, palliative care professionals, and family members of those who have chosen VSED
What We Believe
Partnering to build a world where compassionate death is in reach for all
We came to VSED advocacy from several different directions. Some of us witnessed our loved ones end their life in this manner. Others are Death Doulas, nurses and caregivers who help care for individuals who die this way. We are hospice nurses and social workers, hospice volunteers and Threshold Singers. Many of us are advocates for palliative care and are involved in long-range plans to actively assess and improve the quality of life and healthcare for those who age in community.
What unites us is our passionate belief that compassionate death is a human right. All of us should be able to decide when our quality of life is no longer viable. Planning for a good death is important. Choices are important and available. Our group aims to share information about VSED so individuals can make informed choices and plans. Scroll down to learn more about our mission and approach.
Our Approach
We advocate, educate, and empower
In the summer of 2019, four of us who had witnessed VSED deaths in our families started talking about how we could increase awareness of and access to VSED. Each of us reached out to people we knew in local agencies dedicated to promoting healthy aging and end-of-life choices, and the idea for VSED Resources Northwest was born.
Most people find value in maintaining a sense of purpose and control for themselves. Preserving that sense of autonomy at the end of life often includes choosing how to die. People with certain progressive diseases (Alzheimer’s, ALS, and MS, for example) may not qualify for Hospice Care or Death with Dignity laws. In those cases, VSED may be their only option to end their suffering and maintain a sense of control over their life–and death.
Here at VSED Resources Northwest, we firmly believe that all people have the right to die with dignity. We also believe that any decision to end one’s life should be made carefully and consciously. Talking with and obtaining the support of a health care provider is important. Talking with family members is also important, as is identifying caregivers who are not family. That way, loved ones can be emotional supports during VSED rather than medical assistants.
We also believe that having one’s legal and financial work in order is a crucial component of the intentional dying process. Moreover, having an understanding of what happens during VSED is critical in maintaining the will and determination to proceed, knowing that a successful VSED journey results in death.
— Our Mission
We strive to increase community awareness of VSED as a conscious end-of-life choice and to further its availability and access.
— Our Vision
Planning for a compassionate death that reflects one’s priorities, values, and beliefs is important. Choices are also important–and available. Our group aims to share information about VSED so that individuals who might not qualify for Death with Dignity can make informed choices and plans. VSED might not be for everyone, but it is the only chance for some to experience an end to unbearable suffering. Done correctly, with proper medical preparation and assistance, VSED offers a natural end to life.
Partners
