Sarasota, Florida's Herald-Tribune newspaper has a fantastic website on the life and death of Dorothy Conlon. Conlon recently decided to hasten her death by voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED).
I have written about the legality of VSED (aka voluntarily refusing food and fluid VRFF) both here and here. But the Herald-Tribune website provides a very nice first-person perspective on approaching and going through the process.
Plus, this week, two panel discussions are planned to provide the public with immediate opportunities to engage with experts on this topic.
Expert panel discussion presented by the Herald-Tribune, USF Sarasota-Manatee and Sarasota County Libraries.Tuesday, March 25, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.Selby Auditorium, USFSM campus 8350 N. Tamiami Tr., Sarasota Seating limited. Doors open at 1:30 p.m.
Dorothy's Choice: A Conversation about End-of-Life Issues Expert panel discussion presented by the Herald-Tribune, USF Sarasota-Manatee and Sarasota County Libraries.Thursday, March 27, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.Jacaranda Public Library 4143 Woodmere Park Blvd., Venice Seating limited with doors open at 1:30 p.m.
For far too long, VSED / VRFF has been largely neglected in the bioethics literature and in social discourse. But, as my recent blog posts illustrate, the tide may be turning. 
The latest issue of the The Journal of Clinical Ethics is out (Spring 2014, 25(1)). Included in this issue is an update of my 2011 legal analysis of VSED/VRFF. 
