A moratorium on the euphemism MAID

06/08/24 at 03:00 AM

A moratorium on the euphemism MAID
Journal of the American Medical Directors Association; by Richard W. Sams II MD, MA (Ethics), CMD, Peter Jaggard MD, CMD; 6/24
It is essential for high-quality health care for providers to adhere to the principle of truth telling, speaking with clarity and honesty. The euphemism medical aid in dying, MAID, is being mainstreamed in the medical literature by proponents of physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. ... We recommend standardized language that accurately denotes the context and process. Provider Assisted Death by Prescription (PAD-P) and Provider Assisted Death by Administration (PAD-A) are terms that most accurately describe the process, taking into account who is prescribing or administering a lethal substance and the outcome of the actions. ... The standardized language needs to be used on death certificates so we can most accurately assess the impact that provider-assisted death is having on society. Emphasizing truth telling in morally controversial practices will foster trust among health care providers and with patients.

Back to Literature Review