Literature Review

'Just support her': Brittany Maynard's husband says medical aid in dying helped him grieve USA Today; by Madeline Mitchell; 6/15/25 Some patients find comfort in medical aid in dying, which allows individuals with six months or less to live the option to obtain a medicine that can help them die peacefully at a time of their choosing. It's not considered euthanasia – which is when someone administers a lethal drug – because the patient takes the medicine themselves. Medical aid in dying is legal in 11 states and in Washington, DC. “A lot of patients really express this desire to shield family members from the agony of watching them die, and potentially having them witness a really traumatic or a really burdensome death," said Anita Hannig, an anthropologist and author of the book "The Day I Die: The Untold Story of Assisted Dying in America." Some caregivers say medical aid in dying helped in their grieving process, too. One thing (Compassion & Choices’ Jessica) Empeño, (Americans United for Life’s Catie) Kelley and Hannig agree on: When a patient asks to die, it's crucial to ask questions about their pain levels, comfort and mental health. Not every patient can or wants to move to one of the 12 jurisdictions that allow medical aid in dying. Moving can be expensive, and some patients don't have the physical ability or time to move. The best thing caregivers can do, Empeño said, is to advocate for their loved one and plan for their death. Ask questions about what the patient wants when they are dying, like if they want visitors in those final moments and who should make final decisions if the patient can't themselves. Guest Editor’s Note, Mark Cohen: Medical Aid in Dying is not going away. This article makes the point that the things that hospices do best—empathetic listening, asking thoughtful questions to guide patients in their healthcare decision-making—can benefit patients and families on both sides of this policy question. For a related article, see this column by Dan Diaz supporting removal of the sunset provision in California’s End of Life Options Act: “Husband of Brittany Maynard: Let’s make medical aid in dying permanent”; Sacramento Bee, 6/3/2025.