WHY MAiD VOCABULARY MATTERS

MAiD in the United States is widely misunderstood. The term refers to a patient‑led medical practice available only in states with specific laws. Without clear language, people may confuse it with Canada’s broader MAID system. In the U.S., the term is medical aid in dying. In Canada, the term is medical assistance in dying.

The difference between aid and assistance is not subtle. In the United States, the law requires the patient to self‑administer the prescribed aid‑in‑dying medication. In Canada, both self‑administration and clinician‑administered medication (euthanasia) are permitted. Euthanasia is illegal in the United States.

For this reason, aid is the correct usage in the U.S., while assistance is the correct usage in Canada.

A shared vocabulary helps everyone understand what MAiD is, what it is not, and how it works in the United States.