WHAT MAiD IS
Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) is a state-authorized medical practice available in certain U.S. jurisdictions. It allows eligible terminally ill adults to request and obtain medication they may choose to self-administer to bring about death on their own terms and timing.
MAiD is voluntary, patient-led, and governed by state law. It is available only to adults who meet specific eligibility requirements and who are capable of making their own healthcare decisions.
Although individual state laws differ, the core principles of MAiD remain remarkably consistent throughout the United States.
THE U.S. MODEL OF MAiD
The American model of MAiD is grounded in patient autonomy, informed consent, and personal choice. MAiD is available only to adults who have a terminal illness and a prognosis of six months or less, as determined by clinicians under state law. Patients must also be mentally capable of making and communicating their own healthcare decisions.
Patients must initiate the request process themselves. They must understand their diagnosis, prognosis, available treatment options, and the nature of the decision they are making. No one may request MAiD on behalf of another person.
In most cases, the medication is prepared by a compounding pharmacy and self-administered orally as a liquid mixture. Although procedures vary somewhat among jurisdictions, U.S. MAiD laws require that patients perform the final act themselves.
Unlike some international assisted-dying systems, U.S. laws require self-administration. Physicians may prescribe medication and guide patients through the legal process, but they do not directly administer the medication.
For this reason, the U.S. model is often viewed as one of the most restrictive forms of assisted dying in the world.
CORE PRINCIPLES OF MAiD
Medical Aid in Dying in the United States is built upon several foundational principles:
- Patient autonomy and personal decision-making
- Voluntary participation without coercion
- Informed consent based on a clear understanding of available options
- A terminal illness and a prognosis of six months or less
- Multiple procedural safeguards
- The ability to withdraw at any time
- Self-administration by the patient
Together, these principles are designed to respect individual choice while ensuring that requests are informed, voluntary, and carefully reviewed.
MAiD AND OTHER END-OF-LIFE OPTIONS
MAiD is one option within a broader spectrum of end-of-life care. Patients considering MAiD often receive hospice services, palliative care, comfort-focused treatment, or a combination of these approaches. Many patients who explore MAiD never use the medication but find reassurance in knowing the option exists.
MAiD does not replace hospice or palliative care. Rather, it exists alongside these services as one of several end-of-life options available to eligible patients.
WHAT MAiD IS NOT
Medical Aid in Dying is frequently misunderstood. MAiD is not:
- Euthanasia
- Mercy killing
- Withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment
- Palliative sedation
- A physician directly administering life-ending medication
These practices have different legal, medical, and ethical meanings and should not be used interchangeably. The distinction is particularly important because U.S. MAiD laws require that the patient perform the final act themselves. Physician-administered death is not legal in the United States.
MAiD IN THE UNITED STATES TODAY
Medical Aid in Dying has evolved from a little-known policy discussion to a recognized part of end-of-life care in a growing number of U.S. jurisdictions.
As additional states have considered MAiD legislation, public awareness has increased among patients, families, healthcare professionals, journalists, researchers, and policymakers. Although laws vary by state, the underlying framework remains centered on patient choice, eligibility requirements, procedural safeguards, and informed decision-making.
LEARN MORE
To learn more about medical aid in dying in the U.S., explore: