{"id":67,"date":"2023-08-26T19:32:18","date_gmt":"2023-08-26T19:32:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/?page_id=67"},"modified":"2026-10-15T11:44:56","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T11:44:56","slug":"maid","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/finalexodus.org\/EndOfLife\/maid\/","title":{"rendered":"MAiD"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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MEDICAL AID IN DYING (MAiD)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201c\u201cFor some, knowing they have a choice at the end of life brings comfort\u2014even if they never choose to use it.\u201d<\/strong>
\u2014 Final Exodus<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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UNDERSTANDING MEDICAL AID IN DYING (MAiD)<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD)<\/strong> 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.<\/strong><\/p>

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.<\/p>

People who explore MAiD do so for deeply personal reasons. They are facing a terminal illness they will not survive<\/strong> 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.<\/strong><\/p>

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.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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WHERE MEDICAL AID IN DYING (MAiD) IS AVAILABLE<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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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.<\/p>

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, Hawai\u02bbi, Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Vermont, Washington,<\/strong> and the District of Columbia<\/strong>.<\/p>

Montana is different.<\/strong> It does not have a Medical Aid in Dying statute comparable to these states. The Montana Supreme Court’s 2009 Baxter v. Montana<\/em> 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 <\/strong>authorize physician-administered euthanasia.<\/p>

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.<\/p>

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LAW WHERE YOU LIVE – Visit the last section of our Resources page.<\/b><\/p>

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<\/b> section.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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WHO MAY QUALIFY?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Although requirements vary by jurisdiction, MAiD laws generally establish eligibility criteria that include:<\/p>