In my role as a death doula, I find myself answering this question quite regularly. The acronym stands for Medical Assistance in Dying, and it is a program in Canada that is available to anyone who fits the eligibility criteria.
If you are living with a life-limiting illness that is severely affecting your quality of life and for which there is no cure, you may be eligible for this program. Each person’s request will be assessed by professionals and, should they meet the eligibility criteria, they will be offered the chance to end their life on their own terms.
A good first step is to talk with your family doctor, and if they are not willing to provide assistance, they must refer you to someone who is.
Since Canadian legislation has been amended over the past few years and continues to evolve, I will not be making concrete statements here. If you wish to find out more facts, please use the links below.
https://www.dyingwithdignity.ca/
https://www.dyingwithdignity.ca/blog
https://www.ontario.ca/page/medical-assistance-dying-and-end-life-decisions
If you would like to speak to a professional to discuss the information or coordination of this service, please see the numbers below.
- MAiD information line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- 1-866-286-4023 or TTY: 1-844-953-3350
- Referral services are available Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Available in English and French
- Other languages can be arranged on request
If you decide to go ahead with the MAiD program and would like support, please contact me.
Julie Cryns https://juliecryns.ca/ 905 806 5940
