VSED Remains Key End-of-Life Option Even as MAID Spreads

Patients with ALS in Massachusetts, like patients elsewhere, are disproportionately interested in controlling the timing and manner of their death. Because MAID is not available in Massachusetts, Chuck Abdalian used VSED. 

Few dispute the advantages of MAID over VSED. It is faster: minutes instead of days. It is far less expensive: hundreds of dollars instead of tens of thousands. But advocates for MAID must be careful to not overly denigrate VSED.

VSED remains an important options for many patients who live in the 42 U.S. jurisdictions where MAID is not authorized. And VSED remains an important option even in the 14 jurisdictions where MAUID is authorized because many patients there either cannot qualify or cannot access MAID there.  

Terry & Chuck Abdalian