Knowledge of and preferences for medical aid in dying

Knowledge of and preferences for medical aid in dying
JAMA Network Open; Elissa Kozlov, PhD; Elizabeth A. Luth, PhD; Sam Nemeth, BA; Todd D. Becker, PhD, LMSW; Paul R. Duberstein, PhD; 2/25
In the US, approximately 74 million people (22%) live in a jurisdiction that allows medical aid in dying (MAID), a legal practice that allows terminally ill patients to obtain a prescription for medication to end their life. In this online survey study of 3,227 US adults, 51.3% did not know if MAID was legal in the US, and 50.8% did not know if MAID was legal in their state. In the full sample, 44.0% expressed interest in using MAID if terminally ill. This study suggests that there is substantial interest across all demographic groups in using MAID, but significant knowledge gaps exist about its legality, which may be associated with observed racial and ethnic and educational differences in MAID’s use. These findings highlight the need for public education, policy initiatives, and patient-clinician discussions to ensure equitable access to patient-centered end-of-life options and informed decision-making.