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April 2023 - Vol. 1, Issue 1
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BECAUSE COMPASSIONATE DEATH IS A HUMAN RIGHT
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 Welcome to the inaugural issue of The VSED Dispatch from VSED Resources Northwest. In our quarterly dispatches, we hope to offer stories that inspire, news items that inform, and additional content that engages your interest in VSED, medical aid-in-dying, and related topics. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like us to answer a specific question in future issues. ~ The VRNW Team
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In the News
In mid-February, VRNW co-founders Nancy Simmers and Andrea Fenwick were interviewed for an article that appeared in the Salish Current, a nonprofit, online local news organization serving Whatcom, San Juan, and Skagit counties. Journalist Kai Uyehara's article, “Proposed changes to state’s Death with Dignity Act spark debate,” explores companion bills HB 1281 and SB 5179, which are intended to expand access to Washington State’s existing Death with Dignity Act. SB 5179 was signed into law by Washington's governor in April and will become effective 7/23/23.
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Book Corner
 In February, The VSED Handbook, written by VRNW member Kate Christie with a foreword from Nancy Simmers, was favorably reviewed by Patient Choices Vermont, a non-profit organization dedicated to end-of-life choice. In March, The Durango Herald published an article about VSED by Martha McClellan, who described Christie's book as "a fascinating account of how one person stayed out of a memory care center." |
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VSED Stories
In late November, the Washington Post published a detailed profile of Ben Griffith, who helped his father John hasten his death via VSED. Read an archived copy of the article "A Son's Decision to Help His Father Die" on the Internet Archive, a.k.a. the Wayback Machine.
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Resources & Tips
End of Life Washington offers a variety of tools to help you plan and protect your end-of-life choices. One such tool is the Values Worksheet, which includes questions to consider as you make decisions and prepare documents concerning your health care preferences.
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Nancy Simmers (left), Marie Eaton (center), and Hope Wechkin, MD, at the 2022 WSHPCO conference
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Recent & Upcoming Events
Recently, VRNW members attended the following conferences and meetings:
- October 2022, Chelan, WA, Washington State Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (WSHPCO) annual fall conference: "Expanding Dimensions in Hospice & Palliative Care" Visit the organization's YouTube page to view recorded sessions.
- February 2023, Portland, OR, National Clinicians Conference on Medical Aid in Dying. Visit Thaddeus Pope's YouTube recording on MAID legal considerations.
- March 2023, San Diego, CA: The Hemlock Society of San Diego invited Kate Christie and Andrea Fenwick to present on personal and clinical aspects of VSED to their group.
In the coming months, here's where we're planning to be:
- October 2023, Chelan, WA, Washington State Hospice & Palliative Care Organization's annual fall conference
- Others TBD
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VSED Resources Northwest Impact
Through our website, we offer static informational resources on VSED like guides, videos, and lists. We also counsel people who reach us via our contact form and/or our phone number looking for advice on some aspect of VSED.
Number of people served first quarter 2023
Contact form submissions: 25
Phone calls: 20
Unique website visitors: 2,400
 Most popular pages on website
- Home
- Common Questions about VSED
- What is VSED?
- Who We Are
- VSED Videos
- VSED Stories
- Guide to Managing VSED I
- VSED Reading List
- Contact Us
- Guide to Managing VSED II
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Would you like to support our work? Donations help us increase awareness of VSED and assist individuals and their families as they navigate the end of life. A fiscal sponsorship by Chuckanut Health Foundation makes your donation 100% tax-deductible. Donate now on Charity Proud.
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