FOR U.S. JOURNALISTS

A reference page for reporters covering medical aid in dying (MAiD) in the United States.

About This Resource

This page provides neutral, public‑health–oriented definitions, sourcing guidance, and common reporting pitfalls related to medical aid in dying. It is designed to support accurate, non‑euphemistic, non‑advocacy coverage of MAiD across U.S. jurisdictions.

What MAiD Is

Medical aid in dying (MAiD) is a state‑authorized medical practice that allows a terminally ill, mentally capable adult to request and self‑administer a prescribed medication to bring about death.

  • A legal medical practice in authorized states
  • A patient‑initiated request
  • Self‑administered
  • Limited to adults with a terminal prognosis
  • Governed by state statutes, not federal law

What MAiD Is Not

MAiD is distinct from other end‑of‑life practices. It is not:

  • Euthanasia
  • Assisted suicide
  • Mercy killing
  • Withdrawal of life‑sustaining treatment
  • Palliative sedation
  • “Suicide” in the general‑use sense

These terms have specific clinical, legal, and ethical meanings and should not be used interchangeably.

Common Reporting Mistakes

Frequent errors in U.S. coverage include:

  • Using “suicide,” “assisted suicide,” or “assistance in dying” when referring to MAiD; U.S. statutes use aid, not assistance
  • Using MAiD with a capital “I” (“MAID”), which is a Canadian convention, not a U.S. one
  • Conflating MAiD with euthanasia, which involves clinician‑administered medication and is not legal anywhere in the United States
  • Mistating eligibility, such as implying MAiD is available for non‑terminal conditions, minors, or people with dementia
  • Using advocacy‑driven language (positive or negative) instead of neutral, statute‑based terminology
  • Failing to distinguish state laws, which vary in terminology, waiting periods, residency rules, and procedural requirements

Preferred Terminology

Use statute‑based, jurisdiction‑accurate terms. The preferred umbrella term on this site is medical aid in dying (MAiD).

Acceptable in state‑specific contexts:

  • “Death with Dignity” — Oregon, Washington
  • “End of Life Options Act” — California, Colorado, New Mexico
  • “Patient Choice and Control at End of Life Act” — Vermont

Avoid unless quoting a source:

  • “Assisted suicide”
  • “Physician‑assisted suicide”
  • “Mercy killing”
  • “Euthanasia”

How to Cite This Site

U.S. MAiD Public Health Education Initiative
usmaid.org
Minneapolis, Minnesota

This site provides non‑advocacy, public‑health–aligned educational content and does not lobby for or against legislation.

Contact

For factual clarifications or to confirm terminology, journalists may reach the initiative at:
info@usmaid.org

Last Updated

This page was last updated on June 15, 2026.