Voluntarily stopping eating and drinking (VSED) refers to circumstances when an individual, with the mental capacity to decide to do so, and in the absence of control or coercion, makes an informed decision to stop the oral intake of food and fluids with the intention to end their life. 

This guidance provides a legal and ethical framework to enable doctors to engage in patient-centred care and provide the best possible support and care to patients electing to VSED, whilst acting in accordance with the law. This guidance does not provide clinical information about VSED or symptom management.

What you'll get from this guide

• Information about the law on VSED in the UK.
• How to decide whether it is legally permissible to provide symptom relief to patients who elect to VSED, and proceed in accordance with the law and accepted principles of medical ethics in the UK.
• Guidance on creating a care plan with patients who elect to VSED, including particular topics of importance specifically related to VSED.
• Information about record keeping and reporting the death.
• Links to other BMA resources and guidance, and guidance from other relevant bodies. 

How to use this guide

This guidance applies wherever the patient elects to VSED, such as at home, in hospital, or in a hospice. Each care setting will likely have variations in practice. 

You may also be interested in our core ethics guidance for more general information on capacity, confidentiality, and more. 

Although this guidance has been written for doctors, it may also be useful for other healthcare professionals and carers. We recognise that caring for patients who elect to VSED involves a cross-specialty, multi-disciplinary team working environment which requires that appropriate colleagues be involved from the beginning if feasible.