What is medical aid in dying (MAiD)?
Medical aid in dying allows a terminally ill, mentally capable adult to request and receive a prescription for medication they may choose to self‑administer to bring about a peaceful death.

Who is eligible for MAiD?
Eligibility is defined by state law. In every jurisdiction where MAiD is authorized, a patient must be an adult, have a terminal prognosis, have decision‑making capacity, and make voluntary, repeated requests.

Can a family member request MAiD for someone else?
No. Only the patient may initiate or request MAiD. No one else can raise the option or act on the patient’s behalf.

Do clinicians have to participate?
No. Participation is voluntary. Clinicians and health systems may choose whether to participate based on their own policies and professional judgment.

Is a mental‑health evaluation required?
A mental‑health evaluation is required only if either clinician has concerns about the patient’s ability to make an informed decision. It is not automatically required.

Does a dementia diagnosis alone make someone eligible for MAiD?
No. A dementia diagnosis alone does not make someone eligible for MAiD. U.S. laws require that a patient have decision‑making capacity at every stage of the process, including at the time they self‑administer the medication.

Does the U.S. allow advance requests for MAiD?
U.S. MAiD laws require that a patient be mentally capable at every stage of the process. Advance requests are not permitted prior to a terminal diagnosis of less than six months.

Is MAiD available for mental illness in the U.S.?
No. MAiD in the United States is available only to adults with a terminal illness. It is not available for mental illness alone, and no U.S. jurisdiction is considering extending eligibility beyond terminal conditions.

Can MAiD be used for disability or chronic illness?
No. U.S. MAiD laws require a terminal prognosis. Disability, chronic illness, or long‑term health conditions do not qualify unless the person also has a terminal illness and meets all other legal requirements.

Is the United States considering broadening eligibility for MAiD?
No. U.S. MAiD laws apply only to adults with a terminal illness, and no jurisdiction is considering extending eligibility beyond terminal conditions.

Is MAiD available to minors in the U.S.?
No. All U.S. MAiD laws apply only to adults. There are no provisions for minors.

Can I access MAiD by traveling to Canada?
No. Canada requires legal residency to access its MAID program. U.S. residents cannot travel to Canada for MAiD.

Why do Canadian and other international clinicians view the U.S. MAiD model as an anomaly?
In jurisdictions where assisted dying is legal, clinicians typically use IV administration. U.S. MAiD law requires oral self‑administration, even though swallowing and coordination often decline late in illness. To clinicians trained in IV systems, this legal difference makes the U.S. model appear unusual.

Is MAiD the same as euthanasia?
No. In the U.S., MAiD requires self‑administration. Clinicians do not administer the medication. Euthanasia, where a clinician directly administers medication, is not legal in the United States.

Can a patient change their mind?
Yes. A patient may withdraw their request at any time, including after the prescription has been written. No one is ever obligated to proceed.

Does MAiD shorten life for people who are not terminally ill?
No. MAiD is available only to patients with a terminal prognosis as defined by state law. It is not available to people who are not terminally ill.

Is MAiD used frequently?
No. Only a small percentage of eligible patients choose MAiD. Many patients begin the process but never take the medication. Requests often relieve a patient’s anxiety about the possibility of increased pain and suffering.

Does MAiD replace hospice or palliative care?
No. MAiD is an option alongside hospice and palliative care. Most patients who pursue MAiD are already receiving hospice services.

Does MAiD affect life‑insurance benefits?
No. Life‑insurance benefits are not affected by MAiD. Policies treat medical aid in dying as a legal medical practice, not suicide, and benefits are paid as usual. The cause of death is recorded as the underlying illness.

Is MAiD legal everywhere in the U.S.?
No. MAiD is authorized in a limited number of jurisdictions. Each state sets its own requirements and processes.

How is MAiD different from stopping treatment?
Stopping or declining medical treatment is a separate and longstanding right. MAiD involves a specific legal process and a prescription for medication the patient may choose to self‑administer.