Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED)

Abstract

Abstract. Most cases of voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) occur in the context of severe underlying diseases with concomitant dwindling needs for food and fluids. In these cases, VSED resembles the rejection of a medical treatment. While this is the leading difference to suicide, however, there are also situations within VSED in which aspects of suicide prevention must be considered. After defining the relevant terms and presenting a literature review, we outline options of dealing with different death wishes and provide recommendations oriented toward the possibilities of suicide prevention in the context of abstaining from food and fluids.