Videos of Previous Events

New and Emerging Right to Die Options: 12 Ways to Avoid Late-Stage Dementia by Thad Pope

While current medical advances help us live longer, they often fail to ensure a life of sufficient quality and dignity, especially for those facing Alzheimer’s or other dementias. This presentation by Thaddeus Mason Pope, JD examines four well-established end-of-life choices as well as five emerging choices. It also examines three theoretical options that push the boundaries of what may one day be legally possible in the U.S. Some of these ideas challenge public comfort and policy. But all are grounded in compassion, reason, and respect for personal choice. We hope you benefit from this informed and courageous discussion about how we might expand end-of-life options for aging Americans in the years ahead. https://www.thaddeuspope.com/

Three Doctors Discuss Why They Support Medical Aid in Dying

December 6, 2025. Doctors play a crucial role in the way we die as essential advisors, medical providers, and coordinators of our healthcare decisions and plans. In this meeting, a panel of 3 doctors discuss why they support Medical Aid in Dying (MAID), what changes they’d like to see in the law, and how they personally want to die. The panel also answered questions from the meeting participants. SPEAKERS: Curtis Krock, MD, A retired pulmonologist who practiced for 20 years and a member of the Hemlock Society Board of Directors. Robert Gunn, MD, A retired physician whose wife chose Medical Aid in Dying. Flora Danque, MD, Medical Director of Apreva Hospice.

Hemlock 101: A Review of Fundamentals

October 19, 2025. Board Secretary Christie Golemb and lifetime member Pamela Harper present a history of our organization and an overview of end-of-life options.

There at the End: Voices from Final Exit Network

September 23, 2025. This program celebrates the publication of There at the End: Voices from Final Exit Network—A Celebration of 20 Years. Guest speakers Jim Van Buskirk, the anthology’s editor, and Jenny Mowry, a senior exit guide and anthology contributor, discuss their essays, their roles within FEN, and share readings from the book. You’ll hear the powerful stories of individuals and their families who come to terms with their end-of-life decisions with the support of FEN’s trained volunteers. Jim and Jenny also share insight into how to access FEN’s free services and detailed the role of FEN Exit Guides who serve as end-of-life coordinators, guides, and confidants. An information question and answer session follows the speakers' presentations.

Beverly Thorn: Before I Lose My Own Mind: Navigating Life as a Dementia Caregiver

Beverly Thorn, PhD, a psychologist and certified End-Of-Life Doula, discusses her new book, Before I Lose My Own Mind: Navigating Life as a Dementia Caregiver, telling her own personal story of caring for her husband with dementia. The book is aimed at caring for the caregiver, who often gets overlooked. Since dementia is not an all or nothing thing, there is time before one loses decisional capacity to consider and talk about life values, healthcare and dementia care preferences, and end-of-life wishes. Planning and communication are key in a society where no one wants to talk about dementia or death. Visit Dr. Thorn's website: https://drbeverlythorn.com/

My Wife Voluntarily Stopped Eating and Drinking (VSED) to End Her Suffering – June 2025

Faye Girsh interviewed Larry, a man whose 82-year old wife voluntarily stopped eating and drinking. With the support of a doctor and hospice care, she was able to achieve a peaceful end to her years of unbearable suffering with chronic pain. VSED (Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking) is useful especially for people who do not meet the strict criteria for Medical Aid in Dying where it is legal. In California, the End of Life Option Act requires that two doctors agree that the person has six months or less to live with a terminal illness. In this case, the patient's chronic suffering was irremediable, but not terminal. Books mentioned in this video: The Handbook is: The VSED Handbook: A Practical Guide to Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking by Kate Christie The Scholarly work is: Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking: A Compassionate, Widely-Available Option for Hastening Death Editors: Timothy E. Quill, Paul T. Menzel , Thaddeus Pope, Judith K. Schwarz

Aging and Indepence Services – March 16, 2025

Do you feel alone and overwhelmed by the challenges of aging, facing the end of life, or coping with a life-altering disability? Do you need support to maintain your daily independence and don’t know where to turn? Are you overwhelmed by caregiving or unable to assist loved ones with self-sufficiency issues? Speakers from San Diego County Aging and Independence services provided an overview of nearly 30 support programs offered by various community providers, and shared how to access them locally and in other counties and states.

Alzheimer’s and End of Life Choices

January 26, 2025. If you or a loved has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, you are not alone! Nellie Hernandez from Alzheimer's San Diego discussed the scope of Alzheimer's disease, options for end of life planning, and provided an overview of her organization's free services and support for patients and caregivers.

Chris Palmer Discusses his New Book-Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life

On January 23, 2025, author and Hemlock Society of San Diego Vice President, Chris Palmer, joined our Zoom audience to discuss his newest book, Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life. The book, available on Amazon, covers a wide variety of topics to reduce the fear that often cloaks discussions about death and dying and give readers the knowledge and skills to achieve a peaceful and gentle death.

What to Do With Your Body

Dec 31, 2001. An in-depth panel presentation on the various options for disposing of human remains, including body and organ…

Conversations that Count: How to Share Your Values, Wishes, and Plans with the People Who Matter

How do we discuss our inevitable mortality with the people who matter most? Guest speaker Teressa Vaughn, an Advance Care Planning Specialist and Consultant on Aging and End of Life. shares her expertise and experiences on this topic that so many people feel is difficult. With humor and compassion, Teressa gives us ways to openly discuss our last wishes with family, close friends, and medical caregivers. She offers a human-centered and holistic approach to the conversation around end-of-life planning that can help ensure patients receive the care and support they need in accordance with their wishes. If you find it difficult to talk about dying, you won't want to miss this inspiring presentation.

Preparing an Advance Directive for Dementia

March 3, 2024 - Is your advance directive enough to protect your wishes if you get dementia? Get your end-of-life planning documents in order with help from attorney and expert Bill Simmons of FinalExodus.org. This webinar from Hemlock Society of San Diego covers the basics of advance directives, including how they work and how to choose the right form for you.

Some Myths About Medical Aid in Dying

February 7, 2024 - Recording of the inaugural Faye Girsh Endowed Lecture on Medical Aid in Dying. Speaker Dr. Lonny Shavelson counters the biggest myths about Medical Aid in Dying in this lecture presented to the UC San Diego medical school. Lonny Shavelson, MD is the Chair of the American Clinicians Academy on Medical Aid in Dying. Dr. Shavelson is leading the effort to standardize the practice of Aid in Dying Medicine.

Final Exit Network – July 16, 2023

July 16, 2023. This was a very enlightening meeting with guest speakers Brian Ruder, President of the Final Exit Network Board, and Lowrey Brown, Head of the FEN Exit Guide Program. Faye Girsh opened the program with the history of the Right To Die movement and our guest speakers described the compassionate, important work performed of Final Exit Network

Going to Switzerland

In this meeting on May 15, 2022, we take a fascinating inside look at Swiss Voluntary Assisted Dying (VAD) clinics,…

Current Issues in the Right to Die: Switzerland

First in the series on Current Issues in the Right to Die presented by Faye Girsh. Please note: YouTube shows a warning that the video is flagged as "potentially offensive or sensitive content." Viewers can click "I understand and wish to proceed".

Helping a Loved One Die at Home – Not for the Faint of Heart!

Presented July 18, 2021. Seven out of ten Americans say they would like to die at home, but only 25% do. As a result, few people know what’s involved in a home death. In this 90-minute live Zoom presentation, three Hemlock members will share compelling stories of their personal experiences guiding a mother, a husband, and a client through life’s final stage outside of the efficient but sterile and chaotic environment of a hospital.

Death and Dementia: Alternate Approaches

Sunday, May 16, 2021 In the United States, dementia does not qualify as a condition for MAID. Even if a patient has a terminal illness, if cognitive function is impaired, they are unable to give informed consent for MAID. HSSD is proud to present a renowned international panel who will discuss alternate perspectives on death and dementia and answer questions from our audience.

The High Cost of Dying

March 21, 2021 Our panel of experts review the high costs associated with aging and dying, present strategies to mitigate them, and answer questions from audience participants.

Assisted Dying Around the World

Jan. 17, 2021 - This program explained laws and practices of Voluntary Euthanasia and briefly reviewed Assisted Dying practices in some countries around the world.

Dementia and Death

Nov. 22, 2020 - As the population ages the possibility of a dementia epidemic increases. This panel explores what one can do to determine how long you would want to live if you had dementia and what options are available for a peaceful death when you still have decisional capacity — and when you don’t.

A Q&A on Covid-19

September 20, 2020 - Three physicians speak from considerable experience caring for Covid patients.

Complex Decision Making in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

July 12, 2020. Complex Decision Making in the Intensive Care Unit. Dr. Jamie Labuzetta, MD, MSC, MPHIL, neurointensivist from the University of California, San Diego, describes the many complex decisions a health care surrogate may have to make.

Legal Issues at End of Life

Sept. 8, 2019 – A doctor and nursing home director, an ombudsman and an attorney discuss legal issues that can prevent people from accomplishing their end of life wishes.

Is Rational Suicide Possible?

July 21, 2019 - Panelists presented and discussed the terminology used to describe hastened deaths and explained and discussed the criteria for Final Exit Network.

Heart Failure and End-of-Life Choices

March 17, 2019. Heart failure is the #1 cause of death in America. 40-50% of all patients discharged from the hospital are readmitted within 30 days because of the recurrence of symptoms of congestive heart failure.