Deep Dive into Medical Aid in Dying: Clinical Practice Applications

Outcomes

1. Understand what brings patients to the choice of when and where to end their lives and explore strategies for counseling and supporting patients, families, staff, colleagues and hospice agencies.

2. Describe the physician's role in this process, the process the patient will go through, and details of the intervention itself.

Abstract

Medical Aid in Dying was first passed into law in Oregon in 1997. Since then, the ability of terminally ill people to control the end of their lives has become legal in 10 states and the District of Columbia. It is also legal in all Canadian provinces. While most clinicians are aware of this intervention, many may not understand it in detail. This 2-hour presentation will focus on the history of MAID in the U.S., the current state of MAID practice, what it is and is not, and how to support patients, families, and clinicians, including their organizations, through the decision-making process. The faculty includes both clinicians who practice in states where it is legal and provide this intervention, and those who have had personal experience with MAID.

References

Medical Aid in Dying: Ethical and Practical Issues Treem, Jonathan J Adv Pract Oncol. 2023 Apr: 14(3): 207-211 Medical Aid in Dying. [pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov] Nowels D, VandeKieft G, Ballentine JM. Am Fam Physician. 2018 Mar 1;97(5):339-343. PMID: 29671510 No abstract available. Rethinking Medical Aid in Dying: What Does It Mean to 'Do No Harm?' Dallas R Lawry J Adv Pract Oncol . 2023 May;14(4):307-316. doi: 10.6004/jadpro.2023.14.4.5. Epub 2023 May 1. Trends in Medical Aid in Dying in Oregon and Washington. [pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov] Al Rabadi L, LeBlanc M, Bucy T, Ellis LM, Hershman DL, Meyskens FL Jr, Taylor L, Blanke CD. JAMA Netw Open. 2019 Aug 2;2(8):e198648. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.8648. PMID: 31397857 Free PMC article.