Talking about MAID
Eligibility Ineligibility
To be eligible for MAID in Canada, one must be:
• An adult aged 18 years or older
• A Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
• Eligible for Canadian health care services
• Diagnosed with a grievous and irremediable medical suffering that causes unbearable physical or mental suffering *
• Make a voluntary request
• Able to give informed consent to receive MAID at the time of request and immediately before administering the medication
* In Quebec, you must also be in one of the following situations:
• Experiencing a serious and incurable disease marked by advanced, irreversible loss of function.
• Or, having a serious physical disability that results in substantial and permanent impairments.
There may be some circumstances in which you think the patient is ineligible for MAID based on your medical opinion, such as:
• Believing their suffering can be relieved
• Their cognitive status prevents them from making their own healthcare decisions
If you find yourself in a situation where you find a patient to be a poor fit for MAID, approach that conversation with empathy and understanding that it may be painful that they are not able to end their life on their own terms. If a patient does not currently meet the eligibility criteria, they can request the medication again in the future.
Talking about MAID
Many patients who ask about MAID may be simply gathering information about their options, or are processing their own feelings about mortality, even if they do not ultimately choose to pursue MAID.
Patients with PSP, CBD and MSA might consider MAID to:
Regain control and autonomy in an otherwise uncontrollable situation |
Find comfort in understanding their options, regardless of whether they pursue it |
End physical, spiritual and existential suffering associated with advanced disease stages |
Have the option to die with dignity on their own terms |
Feeling Prepared: Talking about Medical Aid in Dying( MAID)
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