People consider medical assistance in dying (MAiD) for many different and deeply personal reasons. For most, the decision is not based on a single factor, but on how their illness or medical condition is affecting their life, their sense of self, and what matters most to them.

A person may be experiencing ongoing pain or other symptoms, a significant loss of independence or ability to take part in activities that give their life meaning, or distress about how their condition is expected to progress. Some describe feeling that they have lost an acceptable quality of life or that the way they are living is no longer consistent with their own sense of dignity.

People may also have concerns about future suffering or further decline. What one person considers tolerable may be very different from what another person considers tolerable.

Choosing MAiD is an individual decision. Canadian law requires that the person make the request voluntarily, without external pressure, and that they meet all of the eligibility requirements before MAiD can be provided.

Eligibility for medical assistance in dying (MAiD) is determined through an assessment by qualified healthcare professionals. You do not need to be nearing the end of your life to qualify for MAiD, but you must meet all eligibility criteria set out in Canadian law.

To be eligible, you must have a serious and incurable illness, disease, or disability; be in an advanced state of irreversible decline; and experience ongoing physical or psychological suffering that is intolerable to you and cannot be relieved under conditions you find acceptable.

Because each situation is unique, if you are considering MAiD or have questions about eligibility, a MAiD assessor or your healthcare provider can talk with you about your options and explain the assessment process.

For more information, visit our Eligibility for MAiD page.

No. Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) and palliative care are different types of care, though some people may receive both.

Palliative care aims to improve comfort and quality of life for people with serious illnesses. It helps manage pain and other symptoms and offers emotional, social, and spiritual support. Palliative care is not intended to speed up or postpone death.

MAiD is a legal medical service where an eligible person can choose to have a healthcare provider assist them in dying at a time they decide.

Exploring or receiving MAiD does not require someone to stop palliative care. Many people who consider or choose MAiD continue to receive palliative care and other support.

No. You do not need your family’s permission or agreement to request or receive MAiD.

The decision to pursue MAiD is yours alone. Your request must be voluntary, and you need to meet the eligibility requirements under Canadian law. Family members can’t consent to MAiD for you, nor can they stop you from receiving it if you’re eligible and make that choice.

Many people choose to involve family or others who matter to them, but it’s not required. If you’re concerned about your family’s response or there is disagreement, your healthcare team can help you talk things through and connect you and your family with extra support if needed.

No. MAiD doesn’t have to be provided in a hospital.

Depending on where you live, your situation, and whether MAiD providers are available, you might be able to have MAiD in a hospital, another healthcare facility, your home, or another setting that works for you.

For many, choosing where to receive MAiD is an important part of planning their final moments. You may be able to pick a place where you feel most comfortable and decide who you want to have with you.

Your MAiD care team can talk with you about what’s available in your area and help you figure out your options.

Yes. Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) is legal and available in every province and territory in Canada.

How MAiD services are organized and accessed varies across the country. The process, available providers, and where MAiD can be provided may differ depending on where you live. People in rural, remote, or underserved communities may also face additional challenges accessing MAiD services.

If you are considering MAiD, your provincial or territorial MAiD coordination service or a healthcare provider can help you understand how to access services in your area.

In most cases, getting medical assistance in dying (MAiD) won’t stop a life insurance policy from being paid out.

Under Canadian law, if someone receives MAiD according to the rules, their death is seen as being caused by the illness or condition that made them eligible, not by MAiD itself. This means benefits, including life insurance, are usually still paid.

However, insurance policies and personal situations can be different. If you’re unsure about your coverage, it’s a good idea to check with your insurance provider or financial advisor to see how your policy applies.

Once the person has consented to go ahead, the MAiD practitioner will often move to a different room or space to complete paperwork and get the medications ready. The MAiD practitioner or a nurse will insert a needle into the vein (IV). The person and those present will be given privacy if they wish to say their final goodbyes. The MAiD practitioners will help those present be in the positions the person would like, e.g. lying next to them, holding hands, in sight, or out of sight.

Whenever the person is ready, the MAiD practitioner will ask again if they want to go ahead and if they do, they will begin to put the medications through the IV:

• The first drug deeply relaxes the person, and they begin to lose consciousness. Sometimes the person will mumble something that can’t be understood. Some people snore or yawn or take one or two big breaths.
• The second drug puts the person into a deep coma. Often the mouth will fall open as the jaw muscles relax.
• The third drug stops their breathing and heart, and results in death. Because they are in a coma, they are not aware of their heart and lungs stopping. The person will not lose control of their bowels or bladder, and the colour will slowly fade from their face and body.

Even if it appears that the person has died, all the drugs will be given. The MAiD practitioner will listen for heart sounds with their stethoscope and let those present know that the person has died. The body will become cool to the touch and the colour of the body will change as time passes.

It usually takes between 5 and 20 minutes to give all the medications, and for the heart to stop. Many people die in the first few minutes because they are so ill.

Although those who provide MAiD do their best to prepare those present for the sudden change in the person from being alert to no longer alive, some people are surprised by how quickly the person dies. Most assisted deaths have been described by healthcare professionals and families who have been present as painless and peaceful.

Although it is legal in Canada to have a self-administered medically assisted death (where the person takes prescribed medication by mouth themselves), it is still rare in Canada. In many provinces and territories, the only type of assisted death that is available is where the physician or nurse practitioner gives the medications through IV.

In Canada, there are two ways that medical assistance in dying (MAiD) can be provided:

Clinician-administered MAiD: A doctor or nurse practitioner gives medications that cause death. Most MAiD cases in Canada happen this way.

Self-administered MAiD: A doctor or nurse practitioner prescribes medications that an eligible person takes on their own to end their life. While this is allowed in Canada, it’s rare and may not be offered everywhere.

A MAiD practitioner can explain the options and help you understand what might be available to you in your area.

No. Not all doctors and nurse practitioners provide or assess for MAiD.

Some healthcare professionals choose not to offer MAiD for personal, religious, or other reasons. Others may not have the right training, experience, or job role. What’s expected of those who don’t offer MAiD services depends on the rules set by the regulatory body in each province or territory.

If your healthcare provider doesn’t offer MAiD services, you can still ask for information and get an assessment. Depending on where you live, you might be connected with another assessor or a provincial or territorial MAiD coordination service.

For more information about accessing MAiD where you live, visit  MAiD Resources in your Province / Territory

No. If you’re found eligible for MAiD, you don’t have to go through with it.

You can change your mind at any point, even on the day MAiD is scheduled. It’s also okay to postpone or cancel if you want.

For many, just knowing MAiD is an option brings comfort, even if they never choose it. The decision about whether or when to go ahead is always yours.

If an assessor decides you’re not eligible for MAiD, they should explain why.

You can ask another MAiD assessor for a second opinion. Someone new will review your situation and decide if you meet the criteria.
If you’re found ineligible now, that doesn’t mean you always will be. If your health or situation changes, you can ask for another assessment later.
Your healthcare provider or your province or territory’s MAiD coordination service can help you understand your options and what to do next.

CAMAP offers the Canadian MAiD Curriculum (CMC), a bilingual education program recognized across Canada. It’s designed to help people learn about MAiD and feel more confident with the topic.

The Curriculum includes online self-study and, for some topics, live sessions with a facilitator. You can choose from different topics depending on your interests and professional background.

Just getting started with MAiD or want a general overview?

Foundations of MAiD in Canada is open to anyone and gives you a solid introduction to MAiD in this country. Start with Foundations

Need education for your professional role?

Other CMC topics go deeper, offering more detailed learning for healthcare professionals and others involved in MAiD. Who can take each topic depends on the subject. Explore the Canadian MAiD Curriculum.