Dying with Dignity: A Resource 

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) is a Canadian procedure in which a patient is given or administered medication to intentionally and safely end their life. Below is information on eligibility, safeguards, final consent, and application forms for MAiD. 

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Eligibility

To be eligible for MAiD, patients must meet all of the following criteria:

• Be 18 years of age or older and have decision making capability.

• Be eligible for publicly funded health care services.

• Have a grievous and irreversible medical condition.

• Make a voluntary request for MAiD without external pressure.

• Give informed consent to receive MAiD.

 

** If patients’ have a mental illness-not including neurocognitive and neurodevelopmental disorders- as their only medical condition, they are not eligible for MAiD (in effect until March 17, 2023).

 

Safeguards

The safeguards set in place aim to make sure those who make a request for MAiD are capable of making informed decisions of their own free will. Additionally, these persons must be informed of all care options available to relieve suffering.

• Safeguards

  • Undergo medical eligibility assessments

    • Must be assessed by two independent practitioners.

  • Submitted a signed request for MAiD

    • Signed and dated before an independent witness (must also sign).

  • Informed of the right to withdraw consent.

• Safeguards when death is not reasonably foreseeable have same requirements as above, but must additionally meet the following criteria:

  • Of the two medical assessments, one of the practitioners must have expertise in the medical condition.

  • Must be informed and discuss (with medical practitioners) of other options to relieve suffering.

  • The medical eligibility assessments must be performed over a period of at least 90 days

 

Final Consent

Immediately before MAiD is provided, the patient must be given the opportunity to withdraw consent, and must affirm consent to receive MAiD. A waiver of final consent can be submitted if all the following applies:

• Their natural death is reasonably foreseeable.

• While you had decision making capabilities: 

  • They were assessed and approved for MAiD.

  • Their practitioner advised that you are at risk of losing capacity to provide final consent.

  • They made a written arrangement with their practitioner in which they consent in advance to receive MAiD on their chosen date if they no longer have capacity to consent on that date.