Literature Review
All posts tagged with “Public Policy News | Medical Aid in Dying (MAID).”
As ‘right to die’ gains more acceptance, a scholar of Catholicism explains the position of the Catholic Church
04/01/25 at 03:00 AMAs ‘right to die’ gains more acceptance, a scholar of Catholicism explains the position of the Catholic Church The Conversation; by Mathew Schmalz; 3/31/25 An individual’s “right to die” is becoming more accepted across the globe. ... Assisted suicide is now permitted in 10 U.S. states and in Washington. In 2025,five more states are set to consider “right to die” legislation. The “right to die” can refer to several means of dying. ... [Descriptions of terms "right to die," "euthanasia," "assisted suicide/dying."] ...
[UK] Why we need to consider frailty in the assisted dying debate
03/22/25 at 03:55 AM[UK] Why we need to consider frailty in the assisted dying debateAge and Aging; Sarah A Hopkins, Annabel Price, Simon N Etkind; 2/25Assisted dying/assisted suicide (AD/AS) is legal or decriminalised in several countries and Bills to legalise it are currently being considered by the UK and Scottish Parliaments. Older adults living with frailty make up an increasing proportion of those who die, yet the possible implications of AD/AS for these individuals are relatively unexplored. Frailty complicates AD/AS in relation to eligibility because of ambiguity over whether frailty constitutes a terminal illness, challenges in accurately predicting prognosis, and difficulty determining reversibility of suffering. Frailty also blurs the distinction between terminal illness and disability, in contrast to the clear-cut language of current proposed legislation where those with a terminal illness are eligible, but those with disability are not. Further consideration is needed regarding eligibility, safeguards in the context of relational autonomy and for those who already feel a burden, and how to mitigate risks of further entrenching ableist and ageist attitudes.
Delaware House passes end-of-life option bill for terminally ill adults
03/21/25 at 03:00 AMDelaware House passes end-of-life option bill for terminally ill adults ABC Action News 6, Dover, DE; by 6abc Digital Staff; 3/20/25 Currently, medical aid for euthanasia is legal in 10 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Delaware's House of Representatives has passed a bill giving some terminally ill residents the right to take their life. The bill allows mentally capable adult residents, who have been given a prognosis of six months or less to live, the option to request and obtain life-ending medication. The bill now heads to the Senate. ... Now, for the 10th time, Delaware lawmakers are trying once again to get the bill passed. ... Governor Matt Meyer has signaled his support if the bill passes the Senate, ...
[UK] RCGP shifts to position of neither supporting nor opposing assisted dying
03/17/25 at 03:00 AM[UK] RCGP shifts to position of neither supporting nor opposing assisted dying RCGP - Royal College of General Pracitioners, London, UK; Press Release; 3/14/25 The Royal College of General Practitioners' Council has voted to move to a position of neither supporting nor opposing assisted dying being legal. The RCGP UK governing Council - elected representatives of the wider College membership – today voted to determine what the College’s stance should be on whether or not assisted dying should be legal:
Montana House considers bill to put more sideboards on medical assistance in dying
02/28/25 at 03:10 AMMontana House considers bill to put more sideboards on medical assistance in dying NBC KPVI-6, Pocatello, ID; by Darrell Ehrlick; 2/26/25 ... On Wednesday, in a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee that was full of as much testimony as tears, opponents and supporters of medical aid in dying, sometimes called “physician-assisted suicide,” discussed House Bill 637, which would codify requirements for physicians to use the process. ... Demonstrating the often complex political issue that can’t be broken down by party lines, Rep. Ed Stafman, D-Bozeman, who is also a lawyer and rabbi, said he was truly conflicted on the bill, and wondered how Juras, also an attorney, viewed the proposed legislation in light of the state constitution’s right to dignity. ... Testimony from medical professionals ranged from strong support to opposition, ... [Click here for] Here's what [Montana] House Bill 637 would do ...
Daughter indicted for killing mother with morphine in Evans
02/26/25 at 03:00 AMDaughter indicted for killing mother with morphine in Evans The Augusta Press, Augusta, GA; by Greg Rickabaugh; 2/25/25The daughter of a woman who died in an Evans assisted living home from a fatal dose of morphine has been indicted for malice murder. Rachel Elaine Waters, 41, is expected to surrender this week on murder charges in the death of 74-year-old Marsha Sprayberry Foster, according to Columbia County authorities.An indictment says that Waters administered a lethal dose of morphine on July 12, 2023, while her mother was at the Marshall Pines assisted living on North Belair Road. The cause of death was determined in an autopsy, showing that excessive use of the unprescribed morphine was the reason for her death. Foster had Alzheimer’s disease, and the morphine was reportedly left behind by hospice workers and used by the daughter without authorization.
‘End-of-Life Options Act’ moving forward
02/25/25 at 03:00 AM‘End-of-Life Options Act’ moving forward The Famuan - Florida A& M University; by Myah Canidate; 2/22/25 In a world where medical advancements have extended life, the question of how we choose to end it has become increasingly pertinent. House Bill 471, commonly known as the Florida End-of-Life Options Act, proposes a significant shift in how terminally ill patients can approach their final days. This legislation would allow qualified individuals the right to request medication to end their lives peacefully, igniting a complex debate around autonomy, ethics and healthcare practices. ... Supporters of HB 471 argue that it offers a compassionate choice for those enduring unbearable suffering. ... Critics argue that vulnerable patients may feel pressure to choose this option, particularly in situations involving financial strain or family dynamics.
Montana bill to outlaw physician-assisted death clears Senate
02/11/25 at 03:00 AMMontana bill to outlaw physician-assisted death clears Senate Ravalli Republic; by Carly Graf; 2/7/25 The proposal would prohibit a health care provider from prescribing life-ending drugs at the request of a terminally ill patient. That ability currently exists largely due to a legal loophole. [Article is behind a paywall.]
End-of-life-care option bill in New Hampshire stirs conversation on death
02/06/25 at 03:00 AMEnd-of-life-care option bill in New Hampshire stirs conversation on deathMonadnock Ledger-Transcript, Peterborough, NH; by Sruthi Gopalakrishnan; 2/4/25 At age 75, Rep Bob Lynn says he loves life. But he knows he’s no “spring chicken” and his days are finite. The former chief justice of the state Supreme Court is the prime sponsor of House Bill 254, known as “The New Hampshire End of Life Freedom Act,” which gives terminally ill adults the choice to take control of their final days and end their own life with a dose of lethal medication. ... If the legislation passes, terminally ill individuals aged 18 and over with a prognosis of less than six months to live will be able to receive medications to end their lives on their own terms. It comes with a long list of requirements that two health care providers must verify, including that they have healthy mental capacity, are aware of alternative options and are competent to self-administer the drugs. Opponents warned it could encourage suicide, be misused and send a harmful message that people with disabilities are a burden. ... Michelle Flynn, a retired internal medicine physician from Bedford, said allowing terminally ill patients to end their lives opens the door to death as a treatment option. ... Lisa Beaudoin of Temple, founder of Strategies for Disability Equity, worries it would worsen the discrimination disabled people already face in health care.
[Netherlands] Requests for medical assistance in dying by young Dutch people with psychiatric disorders
01/25/25 at 03:05 AMRequests for medical assistance in dying by young Dutch people with psychiatric disordersJAMA Psychiatry; Lizanne J.S. Schweren, PhD; Sanne P.A. Rasing, PhD; Monique Kammeraat, BSc; Leah A. Middelkoop, MSc; Ruthie Werner, MSc; Saskia Y.M. Mérelle, PhD; Julian M. Garcia, MD; Daan H.M. Creemers, PhD; Sisco M.P. van Veen, MD, PhD; 1/25This cohort study found that the number of young psychiatric patients in the Netherlands who requested MAID-PS [medical assistance in dying based on psychiatric suffering] increased between 2012 and 2021 and that applications were retracted or rejected for most. Those who died by MAID or suicide were mostly female and had long treatment histories and prominent suicidality. These findings suggest that there is an urgent need for more knowledge about persistent death wishes and effective suicide prevention strategies for this high-risk group.
What the experiences of young persons can teach us about medical aid in dying for psychiatric illness
01/11/25 at 03:20 AMWhat the experiences of young persons can teach us about medical aid in dying for psychiatric illnessJAMA Psychiatry; Brent Kious, MD, PhD; 1/25Medical aid in dying (MAID) is becoming ever more available. While it is most often used by persons with terminal illnesses, it is also becoming more accessible to those with a primary psychiatric illness. Some countries, including the Netherlands, have long allowed MAID for persons experiencing unbearable and irremediable suffering due to a mental illness. In Canada, Quebec’s Superior Court ruled in 2019 that restricting MAID to persons with a “reasonable foreseeable natural death” violates key sections of the Canadian Charter, implying that MAID must be made available to persons with nonterminal conditions, including psychiatric illness. Meanwhile, while only persons with terminal illness can access MAID in those parts of the US that have legalized it, some physicians have argued that certain psychiatric illnesses, especially anorexia nervosa, can be terminal, opening the door to MAID for persons with a primary psychiatric illness.
[France] Requesting euthanasia or assisted suicide when it is illegal: A qualitative study about relatives' experiences of patients hospitalized in French palliative care units
01/11/25 at 03:00 AM[France] Requesting euthanasia or assisted suicide when it is illegal: A qualitative study about relatives' experiences of patients hospitalized in French palliative care unitsPalliative Care and Social Practice; Camille De Cock, Florence Mathieu-Nicot, Hélène Trimaille, Mathilde Giffard, Aline Chassagne; 12/24Requests for euthanasia and/or assisted suicide are generally understood by relatives. However, receiving and discussing such requests is a challenging and emotionally demanding task, generating significant suffering. All relatives seem to experience some degree of suffering, although its expression varies greatly between individuals. We encourage healthcare professionals to identify the nature of this suffering and to invite patients and their relatives to openly discuss these issues and to proactively address the request.
We studied 20 places around the world and found the most common diseases linked with voluntary assisted dying
12/20/24 at 03:00 AMWe studied 20 places around the world and found the most common diseases linked with voluntary assisted dying Medical Xpress; by Eliana Close and James Downar, The Conversation; 12/18/24 As of 2023, 282 million people lived in regions where voluntary assisted dying is legal. Jurisdictions such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Oregon have had these laws in place for decades. Other countries, including Canada, Spain, New Zealand and Australia, have passed reforms more recently. ... Debates about voluntary assisted dying are often highly polarized. Understanding the factors driving assisted dying is essential for evidence-based debates and for improving care for people with serious conditions. In a recent study, we examined data from people accessing voluntary assisted dying in 20 jurisdictions around the world. In particular we looked at what diseases they had. ... With an international team of researchers, we looked at the role disease plays in voluntary assisted dying. We analyzed publicly available data from 20 jurisdictions in eight countries between 1999 and 2023. Overall, most people who accessed voluntary assisted dying had cancer (66.5% of cases). Neurological diseases were the second most common (8.1%), followed by heart (6.8%) and lung (4.9%) conditions.
[Canada] First reading: Hundreds seeking death due to loneliness — inside Canada’s new MAID figures
12/18/24 at 03:00 AM[Canada] First reading: Hundreds seeking death due to loneliness — inside Canada’s new MAID figures National Post, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; by Tristin Hopper; 12/13/24 [Health Canada has] released the official figures on medical assistance in dying (MAID) deaths in 2023. The Fifth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada, published on Wednesday, reveals that one in every 20 Canadian deaths is now due to assisted suicide. There were 15,343 total MAID deaths in 2023, the median age ... was 77.7 years, and 622 people received MAID for a non-terminal illness. ... The growth rate [in Canada] remains higher than anywhere else. ... Half of non-terminally ill people applying for MAID report being lonely. When applying for MAID, patients are asked to detail all the types of suffering they’re experiencing in order to determine if their condition qualifies as something “grievous and irremediable” — and thus eligible for death. Health Canada’s report reveals that 47.1 per cent of non-terminally ill Canadians who applied for MAID reported “isolation or loneliness” as one of the causes of their suffering. This was significantly higher than the number of terminally ill applicants who said the same (21.1 per cent).
Contextualizing attitudes toward medical aid in dying in a national sample of interdisciplinary US hospice clinicians: hospice philosophy of care, patient-centered care, and professional exposure
12/14/24 at 03:25 AMContextualizing attitudes toward medical aid in dying in a national sample of interdisciplinary US hospice clinicians: hospice philosophy of care, patient-centered care, and professional exposurePalliative Care and Social Practice; Todd D Becker, John G Cagle, Cindy L Cain, Joan K Davitt, Nancy Kusmaul, Paul Sacco; 12/24Findings suggest that contextual factors-namely, the environments in which hospice clinicians practice-may shape attitudes toward MAID [medical aid in dying]. Unanticipated results indicating that hospice professionals' adherence to hospice values was not significantly associated with attitudes toward MAID underscore the need for further research on these complex associations, given previous theoretical and empirical support.
[Great Britain] British lawmakers give initial approval to a bill to allow terminally ill adults to end their lives
12/02/24 at 03:00 AM[Great Britain] British lawmakers give initial approval to a bill to allow terminally ill adults to end their lives AP - The Associated Press, London, UK; by Brian Melly and Pan Pylas; 11/29/24 British lawmakers gave initial approval on Friday to a bill to help terminally ill adults end their lives in England and Wales, following an impassioned debate that saw people sharing personal stories of loss and suffering. Members of Parliament approved the assisted dying bill by a 330-275 vote, signaling their approval in principle for the bill, which will undergo further scrutiny before it goes to a final vote. Friday's vote came after hours of debate — emotional at times — that touched on issues of ethics, faith and law. There was no braying and shouting that often marks debates in the House of Commons and speeches were considered respectfully and heard in silence. ... Supporters said the law would provide dignity to the dying and prevent suffering, while protecting the vulnerable. Opponents said the disabled and elderly were at risk of being coerced, directly or indirectly, to end their lives to save money or relieve the burden on family members. Others called for the improvement of palliative care to ease suffering as an alternative.
Willingness to be present throughout patient death via medical aid in dying in a national sample of interdisciplinary US hospice clinicians: a content analysis of rationales
11/23/24 at 03:25 AMWillingness to be present throughout patient death via medical aid in dying in a national sample of interdisciplinary US hospice clinicians: a content analysis of rationalesPalliative Care and Social Practice; Todd D. Becker, Cindy L. Cain, John G. Cagle, Joan K. Davitt, Nancy Kusmaul, Paul Sacco; 10/24 The United States is one of a growing number of countries across Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America to have legalized what, domestically, is referred to as medical aid in dying (MAID). The objective of the current study was to explore attitudes toward presence throughout a patient’s death via MAID in hospice physicians, nurses, social workers, and chaplains. Participants who were willing to be present (n = 305 [74%]) attributed their willingness to personal support, definitions of quality clinical care, and values from their professional training. Those who were unwilling (n = 63 [15%]) noted personal objections to the concept of MAID, personal objections to MAID participation, and perceptions of MAID’s misalignment with healthcare. Hospice clinicians would benefit from greater professional guidance and support pertaining to MAID.
West Virginia voters narrowly approve state constitutional ban on physician-assisted suicide
11/08/24 at 03:00 AMWest Virginia voters narrowly approve state constitutional ban on physician-assisted suicide WVNews - West Virginia's News; by Steven Adams; 11/7/24 An amendment to West Virginia’s constitution to prohibit physician-assisted suicide — already illegal in the state — managed to squeak through after Tuesday’s election with just enough votes, though the vote was a statistical tie. According to unofficial election results posted by the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office, Amendment 1 passed, with 335,822 votes (50.5%) for and 329,742 against (49.5%) — a difference of 6,080 votes. The West Virginia Legislature adopted House Joint Resolution 28 during the 2024 regular session earlier this year. The joint resolution placed on the November general election ballot a proposed state constitutional amendment that would ban medically-assisted suicide and/or euthanasia.
MAiD in America: A rapid review of medical assistance in dying in the United States and its implications for practice for health care professionals
11/02/24 at 03:35 AMMAiD in America: A rapid review of medical assistance in dying in the United States and its implications for practice for health care professionalsJournal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing; by Kathy Howard Grubbs, Christiana M. Keinath, Sharon E. Bigger; 10/24The evolving legal landscape associated with medical assistance in dying (MAiD) may pose significant challenges for hospice and palliative care professionals. In the United States, 10 states and 1 jurisdiction have passed legislation allowing MAiD. National organizations, such as the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association, have created position statements to serve as guides to care. Given the clinical and ethical challenges associated with MAiD, a rapid review was conducted to provide current evidence for policymakers, health care professionals, and researchers to use when considering care management and policy initiatives. Using a systematic approach, publications related to MAiD between 2019 and 2024were extracted and synthesized. The review provides definitions of terms that differentiate between MAiD, euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, medically assisted death of the nonterminal patient, and death with dignity. A total of 23 articles were included in the review and categorized into 4 themes: (1) legal, regulatory, and policy concerns; (2) health care professional experience of MAiD; (3) patient and caregiver experience of and communication about MAiD; and (4) disparate access to MAiD.
Terminally ill patients from other states can’t come to N.J. to end their lives, court rules
10/30/24 at 03:00 AMTerminally ill patients from other states can’t come to N.J. to end their lives, court rules NJ.com; by Chris Sheldon; 10/29/24 A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the residency requirement in New Jersey’s medical aid in dying law does not violate the U.S. Constitution, meaning the state can continue to keep its right to die law exclusively for residents. The ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed in August 2023 by Compassion & Choices on behalf of terminally-ill cancer patients in Delaware and Pennsylvania and two New Jersey doctors, according to a statement from the non-profit, which works to expand choice for the end of life.
A moral code: Ethical dilemmas in medicine — three physicians face crossroads in patient care
10/29/24 at 03:00 AMA moral code: Ethical dilemmas in medicine — three physicians face crossroads in patient care MedPage Today; podcast by Genevieve Friedman, Perspectives Editor; 10/25/24 We are back for another episode of our medical podcast, which we hope isn't really a podcast about medicine, but a podcast about life, death, dilemma, the challenges, and sometimes the joys of medicine. ... Now, medicine is complicated because a lot of times there aren't hard and fast rules ... One treatment isn't always right or wrong for someone. One surgery isn't always successful or unsuccessful, and one diagnosis isn't always correct. Decisions aren't black and white, they're varying shades of gray. So we come up with principles to help handle this -- codes if you will. But even those get a bit marred by complexity at times. As you'll hear in this episode of Anamnesis with the theme of "A Moral Code: Ethical Dilemmas in Medicine," one of our biggest codes is "do no harm." But what is harm? Who decides what harm is, what happens if we disagree?
Where is assisted dying legal? How the rules worldwide compare
10/18/24 at 03:00 AMWhere is assisted dying legal? How the rules worldwide compare The Times, London, UK; by Bruno Waterfield, Josie Ensor, and Bernard Lagan; 10/16/24In 1937, Switzerland legalised assisted suicide provided those doing the assisting were not motivated by “any selfish intent”. Six decades later, the US state of Oregon legalised physician-assisted suicide for people with less than six months to live. In 2001, the Netherlands became the first country in the world to decriminalise assisted dying. In the two decades since, the debate around a state or nation’s approach to life and death has sped up. Belgium, Australia and ten more US states have decriminalised forms of assisted dying. The approach varies, but they all fall under the umbrella of assisted dying, a term that usually refers either to euthanasia — the practice of a doctor administering a lethal drug — or to assisted suicide, in which a person self-administers a lethal drug, often after someone has helped them to procure it. [Click on the title's link for its list of comparisons.]
Hospice policy mandating two-week enrollment prior to ingesting aid-in-dying medication
10/04/24 at 03:00 AMHospice policy mandating two-week enrollment prior to ingesting aid-in-dying medicationAcademy of Aid-in-Dying Medicine; by Constance Holden, Jeanne Kerwin, Paula Goodman-Crews, Margaret Pabst Battin; 10/2/24[A white paper from the ACAMAID Ethics Consultation Service.] An aid-in-dying-prescribing physician is concerned about a policy that several local hospices have implemented prohibiting patients from ingesting their aid-in-dying medication during the first two weeks of enrollment. The requesting provider is concerned that this policy requires patients who have made aid-in-dying requests to wait well beyond the 48 hours mandated by law. This potentially results in undue added suffering for the patient. It is also a potentially discriminatory practice, as it leads to unequal access to care.
Delaware Governor John Carney vetoed HB #140 AAB HA #1 (9/20/24) – An act to amend Title 16 of the Delaware Code related to end of life options
09/24/24 at 03:00 AMDelaware Governor John Carney vetoed HB #140 AAB HA #1 (9/20/24) – An act to amend Title 16 of the Delaware Code related to end of life optionsPress release; 9/20/24
You cannot come to New Jersey to die, judge says
09/23/24 at 03:00 AMYou cannot come to New Jersey to die, judge says New Jersey 101.5; by Eric Scott; 9/20/24 Terminally ill individuals may not travel to New Jersey to end their lives. When New Jersey's Aid in Dying law took effect in 2019, it included a provision that doctors verify a patient's residency before prescribing them medications that will end their lives. A federal judge has ruled the residency requirement does not violate the U.S. Constitution. The ruling came after terminally ill cancer patients from Delaware and Pennsylvania sued. They wanted to travel to New Jersey to end their lives. ...