Final Exodus
Your Life. Your Terms. Your Plan.
Final Exodus
Your Life. Your Terms. Your Plan.
Your Life. Your Terms. Your Plan.
Your Life. Your Terms. Your Plan.
““For some, knowing they have a choice at the end of life brings comfort—even if they never choose to use it.”
— Final Exodus
Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) is an end-of-life option available in a growing number of U.S. jurisdictions. It allows an eligible, terminally ill adult with decision-making capacity to obtain prescription medication that the individual may choose to self-administer to end their life.
MAiD is governed by state law, and eligibility requirements and procedures vary by jurisdiction. Participation is voluntary for the individual, and laws also address the circumstances under which health care professionals and institutions may participate.
People who explore MAiD do so for deeply personal reasons. They are facing a terminal illness they will not survive and, in choosing MAiD, are choosing the timing and circumstances of their death. Concerns may include physical suffering, loss of function or independence, changes in quality of life, or a desire for greater control over the dying process. What constitutes an acceptable quality of life is personal and can only be defined by the individual.
For some people, simply knowing that MAiD is available can provide reassurance and a greater sense of control. Having the medication available may bring a sense of peace, even if they ultimately choose not to use it.
As of September 2026, Medical Aid in Dying is authorized by law in a number of states and the District of Columbia. Although these laws share important features, their eligibility requirements and procedures are not identical.
Oregon was the first state to implement a Death with Dignity law, in 1997. Since then, additional jurisdictions have authorized Medical Aid in Dying, including California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.
Montana is different. It does not have a Medical Aid in Dying statute comparable to these states. The Montana Supreme Court’s 2009 Baxter v. Montana decision addressed circumstances in which a patient’s consent may provide a physician with a defense to homicide prosecution for physician aid in dying. It did not authorize physician-administered euthanasia.
New York’s MAiD law took effect August 5, 2026, and Illinois’s End-of-Life Options for Terminally Ill Patients Act became effective in September 2026.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LAW WHERE YOU LIVE
Medical Aid in Dying laws and requirements vary by jurisdiction and may change over time. For current information and links to official government sources, visit our Resources section.
Although requirements vary by jurisdiction, MAiD laws generally establish eligibility criteria that include:
Additional requirements—including residency, waiting periods, requests, witnesses, medical evaluations, and the health care professionals authorized to participate—vary by jurisdiction and may change over time.
For that reason, anyone considering MAiD should consult current information for the jurisdiction in which they are seeking care. New York illustrates why: its current law requires a mental health evaluation, while requirements in other jurisdictions differ.
A defining feature of U.S. Medical Aid in Dying laws is that the qualified individual must perform the act of self-administration required by applicable law. Another person may not administer the medication for the individual.
The precise meaning of self-administration and the assistance that others may lawfully provide depend on the law of the particular jurisdiction. Anyone with questions about these requirements should consult current information from an appropriate health care professional or other authoritative source in that jurisdiction. (See list of jurisdictions on the Resources page.)
End of Life Choices California (EOLCCA) offers an uncommon level of direct, hands-on support for Californians using Medical Aid in Dying—all at no charge. Trained volunteers provide information and support throughout the process and, when requested, can be present on the planned day of ingestion. A trained volunteer may also prepare the MAiD medication and hand it to the client, who must self-administer the medication.
Canada
“Words matter—especially at the end of life. Laws and language differ across jurisdictions, and understanding those differences begins with a fundamental distinction: who makes the decision, and who performs the final act.”
— Final Exodus
Canada has a different legal framework for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) than the United States. Federal law establishes the overall framework, while provinces and territories may have additional policies and procedures.
Under Canadian law:
Eligibility requirements, safeguards, and procedures can change. Anyone seeking information about MAiD in Canada should consult current federal information as well as the requirements of the province or territory in which care is being sought.
Extensive recent medical research clearly indicates that with a good lifestyle you can prevent developing Alzheimer’s disease. What life style changes? (As many as you can do; the more, the better.)
This list is taken from a class on prevention given at the San Diego Community Colleges in the fall of 2022. You can get similar information from this YouTube video: Ten tips to prevent Alzheimer's, Melissa Batchelor. There are others.