Podcast: How to Die a Good Death

Retaining dignity, privacy, and relief from pain at the end of life. This episode features audio from:
nutritionfacts.org/video/how-...
nutritionfacts.org/video/vsed...
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[@nozroc7312]

Thank you, my 89 year old father is on Hospice right now and has stopped eating and drinking three days ago. He is surrounded by loved ones and was able to say his goodbyes before he lost the ability and we are all grateful for that. He is dying with dignity.

[@robinsaxophone232]

My mother had gall bladder cancer and it became painful to swallow food. I told her she didn’t have to eat unless she wanted to. She seemed relieved and chose not to eat. She died at home with my sister and me holding each had telling her how much we loved her. It’s never easy losing a mother but at least she died as peacefully as possible.

[@eveastardust3747]

My father was a cardiologist who saw many of his patients die. At 87, he fell. He was done with living.he ended his own life by not eating or drinking. He was also on narcotics for pain. I think it took 4 days.

[@Yzyxdolorza]

It’s interesting that many animals simply stop eating when they are dying. They don’t need to put loved ones in a position of facing severe legal consequences, or the risk of botched suicide (which can ensure prolonged, expensive and pointless suffering.)

[@egris00]

Critical and welcome information for a seventy year old like me. Thank you Dr. Greger.

[@bonniepoole1095]

I first heard about VSED years ago (1992) in a book by Helen Nearing, "Loving and Leaving the Good Life." My 94 year old dad tried it but after 2 days, said it was too hard. At that point, he had no support from Dr's or care givers. Hospice said he was 'too stable and in no acute distress' so they turned him down for their program. His Dr. finally ordered 'pallitative care only' and he died 2 weeks after Hospice denied him support. Hospice needs more volunteers and more health care workers as their work load in my county is too great to accommodate everyone who would benefit.

[@missinmayberry7289]

Thank you for this. I am a nurse practitioner in hospice care.

[@kimrodgers692]

Appealing idea, especially from the perspective of loved ones. But wouldn’t dying of thirst be horrible for the patient? Perhaps even more so than the pain of the fatal illness?

[@chuckm2405]

One of your best! Thanks Doc!

[@FelisStella-HappyStar]

Thank you so much for this, Dr. Greger.

[@jaystovall37]

Thank you for making this video. You are brave for taking this subject on, and you probably put a lot a people's 'minds to rest'.

[@sergiomontes2568]

Thank you so much for this; I didn't know it.

[@lauramarkowitzmultimedia8160]

This was deeply inspiring. Thank you so much for all your work, and for this video in particular.

[@Earthling3996]

This was hard to listen to. My husband died just a few months ago due to complication from his cancer. He was only 51. Near the end, he couldn't eat. Even thinking of food made him nauseous. Nothing was coming out for a few days either. He went quickly, though - sudden cardiac death. He had no prior heart conditions. We thought he would have more time. He had good care from both myself and the staff at the hospital, but he wanted to get well and come home. He still had hope up until a few days before his death.

[@AndrewPawley11]

I love these podcasts!

[@naftalibendavid]

Thanks Doc!

[@hannahjames4823]

Well said 🙇🏽

[@thomas6502]

Thank you.

[@pennynolan7597]

My late husband finally made a decision to enter a Hospice. We got a last minute call and rushed over. Half an hour after arriving one of the nurses came into the room and chastised me for a mix up with his medicine in the docette. We were rushed and I made a mistake. She should have lead me out of the room instead of berating me in front of his family. I was embarrassed and hurt. Is this the caring institution that they portray? And continually ask for and expect money. The following day, while transferring my husband from his chair to the bed, jerked him and hurt his neck. The pain lasted until he died 2 days later. My former positive opinion of Hospice dissolved.

[@carollen5633]

So sorry Penny you had to go through that BS. It's important to be prepared by researching the best Hospice care facilities if possible. When illness and our final rest is approaching it's comforting to have more information. The problem is...most people avoid even thinking about their end; can't say I blame them. That profound experience has given you some other choices you can make for yourself. Blessings and take care.

[@ggcruise]

This is very comforting information.

[@carollen5633]

VSED is fine with me. However, I'd rather die on a beach with my own way of saying goodbye, it would be quick and painless. If you have no family, VSED is the way to go in hospice care. Many adventurous seniors save a percentage of their meds, allowing themselves complete control over where and how they go...the brave and unafraid perhaps are well conditioned, for that last chance for yet another life experience. Death is a rite of passage, life is nothing but experiencing how to live and love, so one can have a peaceful passage. Blessings.

[@johnkraai5185]

Thanks, a valuable episode. Now, to check the status of vsed in Canada.

[@carollen5633]

Yes VSED is offered in Canada. However at the moment health care is more interesting in "assisted suicide" perhaps we should all verify what they mean. It could be VSED. Take care.

[@luzaguirre2830]

This was awesome & interesting..especially so because i do part time palliative care & always be sure to not meet only physical needs but emotional as well w/ loving touch & positive words even for the non verbal James 1:27

[@nonewherelistens1906]

Scott Nearing, many years ago, chose to stop eating and drinking, when at the age of 100, he could no longer bring in wood from the woodpile to keep his house warm. Feeling no longer useful, he chose a courageous path to end his time here.

[@franchabarker6433]

They don’t live longer if they are in a demented state and hospice decides to sedate the life out of them. My brother went from continence, intelligible speech, motility to death in days in hospice.

[@user-pg9hq6wh6n]

Death is not the end its the beginning of a new life.❤

[@Viertelfranzose]

I never want a painfully deathmoment and would love to sleep in death like a hospital sleep before a surgery. Is there a Pill or other Method to could sleep to death without pains 🤔. Thank you very much for ideas and greetings from Andreas

[@heidi1651]

Thank you Dr. Greger. There is a lovely life story of a man named Scott Nearing that chose to stop eating and drinking at the end of his life called, "Loving and Leaving the Good Life", by Helen Nearing.

[@carlosolivares1366]

❤

[@blairpittams9380]

In my prolonged disabling grief I have understood my suicide has to happen. I understood this could be just a stage in my life, and things could get better

[@user-ky9sr4bm1f]

Yeah thats good ! I intend to hitch a ride on a rocket to pluto just before my 100th birthday !

[@blairpittams9380]

Doctor assistant suicide is legal in my country, I recently asked my nurse if I'm able to go through this, due to my mental health disorder

[@elph77]

I think the volume isn't working correctly for this video.

[@notthere83]

I'm skeptical about it being a "better" death than physician-assisted. I sense something being off about how the rating was conducted. Feeling incredibly hungry and thirsty all the time surely can't be a pleasant feeling. While with physician-assisted, you can live normally until the last half hour or so. And I have not read anything about it that would indicate discomfort during the procedure. Also, I can't stand the stigma around violent ways. Seems like a symptom of our selfish, life-obsessed world. Each human only lives for a infinitesimal amount of time and yet people act like it's REALLY important that they don't die a few years early. And that the feelings of the family are REALLY important. Get over yourselves and let people die in peace.

[@carollen5633]

@notthere83/// have you given thought to people without family? No one will be there, so what's the point? VSED sounds fine by me, especially in my own home. It's comforting to know no one will suffer over my departure. I won't have to put up with sad faces. Death is a rite of passage, not a death sentence. It depends also on one's faith, or perhaps some don't need faith...this is a whole other topic. Take care.

[@wadepatton2433]

One doesn't feel incredibly hungry when fasting. I've never withheld water, but maybe a zero-intake fast takes care of that too. I'm no expert at fasting but know that hunger goes away quickly once the body "gets" that there are no calories coming in. Methinks it's a survival mechanism from our not-so-distant past when we ran completely out of food at times. That programming is deep in our DNA. Having questions is good. Hope that helps.

[@fidelkva4810]

the dehydration sounds horrible

[@proudchristian77]

It's the result of to early a trama at home , lost members, were old now ! But it's been my fight for yrs ! It's the only thing in my hand's, people's can reach in & hurt others , & walk ,head games , heart games, bug's a diet ! start young & u really bug thing's by the time your old ! 💝🚴‍♀️

[@Anton-tf9iw]

The reason I trust the data used here much more than that from the Pharma industrial complex is that big money as a motive for data "massage" is out of the picture. VSED is a good alternative for jurisdictions that forbid voluntary euthanasia by a final little cheap injection like the Netherlands.

[@jamiesalmonsculpture8599]

Not eating is one thing. Not drinking is not nice. I've seen it. I won't go into details as it's very upsetting. No water is a slow, torturous experience for the patient. I don't know what this man is talking about. Death by dehydration is awful

[@Calmopportunitycc]

💯 agree.

[@catspajamas2961]

No water is horrific. Family members who care for the person dying at home in this way can be "scarred for life" as I have been told.

[@carollen5633]

@jamiesalmonsculpture8589/// In dying...the body takes on different functions, and metabolic changes occur, so it might look to you like dehydration is torturous however, our bodies are equipped to compensate, till the final moment. The key is to surrender and not fight a natural passage. Fear is the greatest obstacle, even this will subside and be replaced with peace. We were made for this natural transition. Take care.

[@notesfromleisa-land]

Well the patient is making the choice.

[@Calmopportunitycc]

I've been your long-time subscriber, I never expected you to recommend something this crazy. Totally insane!

[@Time782]

Live well and die well. I think this podcast was great!

[@animalsarebeautifulpeople3094]

We all have to die some time. It's best to die with minimal discomfort

[@amycortez3289]

It is not insane to those living in intractable pain and continuous suffering. Each of us deserves dignity, whatever that looks like for each individual.

[@carollen5633]

@yunachan888/// you might find this insane now. however if you wait and let others make the final decision over your passing, it might get totally insane. Now you know, leave a "living will" (a written statement detailing your desires regarding your medical treatment in circumstances in which you are no longer able to express consent.

[@gailhumiston3890]

If you've ever had to care for someone who was dying, you'd understand the importance of this topic and knowing the options.

[@Elizaveta712]

Conscious suicide is a challenge to God. For this there is hell after death. And only complete, possessed madmen can call it “worthy.” This is a devilish lie. Demons will greet such a naive soul deceived by them with disgusting laughter. There is nothing more disgusting than that. Find out from Seraphim Rose in the book “The Soul after Death” what really awaits you beyond the threshold of life. He summarized the world's religious and medical experience of resuscitators.

[@chuckm2405]

This is complete idiocy. Please stop attempting to spread this ghastly lunacy.

[@carollen5633]

@Elizaveta712/// Eliza...suicide is not a challenge to God. Our Universal Master is not a demon feeling challenged. God has made us into His image. If you believe there is hell after death, then it will come to pass onto you, because no one can be perfect...so I suppose you could say "we are all going to hell" Why would anyone loving life and God want to preach such condemning prophecy on their brothers and sisters? Surely you must have some issues with forgiveness. This is what Jesus spoke about.

[@Time782]

Have some brocolli 🥦🥦🥦🥦🥦🥦🥦🥦

[@bluesky5587]

Sorry to tell you but the god stuff is a fairytale

[@175Rich]

@@bluesky5587 Amen

[@paulcohen6727]

I hate this video. You try to paint a pretty picture but there is nothing pretty about the d-word. It is and abomination and unacceptable. It is the irretrievable loss of a person, a human life and soon, all that it has accomplished and achieved. It's a grief to one's loved ones. Let us eat, drink and be merry today; we can put off thinking about this morbid subject for another day, hopefully in the far distant future.

[@notesfromleisa-land]

It's worth having these discussions with loved ones. None of us get out of this life alive. My family all know my wishes, and I know theirs.

[@Maggie-zr2ow]

You will have much more peace if you can find your way to resolving this negative view of death. You don’t have to live this way.