title: Introduction: Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking.
abstract: This symposium includes twelve personal narratives from those who have personally participated in voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED). This issue also includes three commentaries on these narratives by experts in philosophy, palliative care, and hospice medicine. The successes, challenges, and observations described by these narrative and commentary authors will not only inform the academic debate about the legitimacy of VSED but will also inform much needed practical guidance for patients, clinicians, and family members on how they can best implement and support VSED.
authors.forename: Thaddeus Mason
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Pope
mesh_terms: D004326:Drinking; D004435:Eating; D033101:Euthanasia, Active, Voluntary; D006801:Humans; D017236:Suicide, Assisted