S2: Episode 21- What is VSED & Terminal Fasting?

Show notes- Mourning Dove Medical Presents Dr. G at the Heart of Healthcare Guest-Mitsuo Tomita, MD - Father was from Japan and his mother from Hawaii - Born and grew up in Los Angeles - Attended Dorsey High School - UCLA First Gen, graduated cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, with highest honors, majoring in Zoology - UCSF School of Medicine, Fresno - Board certified Family Medicine - Joined Kaiser Permanente, San Diego in 1975 - Appointed Assistant Clinical Professor at the UCSD School of Medicine - Retired in 2008 after 33 years of full-time practice, which he very much enjoyed - Served on the boards of Planned Parenthood in San Diego, Arthritis Foundation, Lupus Society - Post-retirement work in FQHCs federally-qualified community health centers in the San Joaquin Valley, Washington State - Co-chairs the San Diego County Medical Society's Bioethics Commission and the Retired Physicians section of the Medical Society - Serves on the board of the San Diego Chapter of the Japanese American Citizens League - Volunteers with Compassion & Choices Mission-Educate & Empower in three parts, helping listeners ‘SEE’ what’s needed to navigate the healthcare system. 1. Story (theme) Dr. G heard Dr. Tomita’s insightful talk about EtOH & Dementia at the 12th Annual Brain Health Forum SD Dementia Consortium hosted by Oasis Senior Advisors and The Elizabeth Hospice 2. Educate -Teaching points - Article: Clinical Guidelines for Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED) by Hope Wechkin, MD https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37352942/ - VSED or terminal fasting leads to death by dehydration in 1-3 weeks. It is an option of addressing quality of life for an adult, with decision-making capacity, who does not qualify for Medical Aid in Dying MAiD, and have severe pain & suffering from a non-psych serious health condition. - ADVANCE CARE PLANNING: Consider if Hand Feeding is important for you at the end-of life. While creating your Advance Directive consider the QUESTION “If I can NOT feed myself, DO I WANT TO BE HAND FED❓” Some conditions, such as end stage dementia, people forget how to feed self. - Article, COMFORT FEEDING https://www.cuanschutz.edu/graduate-programs/palliative-care/palliative-care-blog/blog/palliative-care-blog/the-dilemma-comfort-feeding-presents - Fast Fact Number 470 “Counseling Adult Patients and Caregivers on Nutrition During the Dying Process”https://www.mypcnow.org/fast-fact/counseling-adult-patients-and-caregivers-on-nutrition-during-the-dying-process/ 3. Empower -A valuable a resource to define your own quality of life https://compassionandchoices.org/our-issues/vsed/ Website info https://mourningdovemedical.com Video podcast 🔗 https://youtu.be/vwiZb7JQf8A?si=x6WGJQtdt91fMWEA #hapc #EducateAndEmpower #PeaceOfMind #TheRealDealAboutHospice #Hope #AdvanceDirective #AdvanceCarePlanning #VSED #MAiD #GoalsOfCare