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Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) is a legal healthcare service available to eligible individuals in Canada. This page provides links to reliable information, resources, and support services to help individuals, families, and caregivers understand MAID, including eligibility requirements, the assessment process, legal safeguards, and available care options.
Whether you are seeking information for yourself or a loved one, these resources can help you make informed decisions and access appropriate support.
Dr. Stefanie Green spent 10 years in general practice and another 12 years working exclusively in maternity and newborn care before changing her focus in 2016 to medical assistance in dying (MAID). Dr. Green is the co-founder of the Canadian Association of MAID Assessors and Providers (CAMAP). She is clinical faculty at the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria and most recently, is the author of THIS IS ASSISTED DYING, a memoir about her first year providing assisted dying in Canada.
MAID Resource Websites
Bill C-14 in 2016 formally legalized assisted dying in Canada. Learn more.​
The steps involved with timing, finding an independent witness, and giving consent at the time of MAID.
Everything you need to know about requesting medical assistance in dying
For anyone living on Vancouver Island or Gulf Islands
Involves two independent assessments, and how to prepare for ahead of time.
A Network of Connections and Community Supports Through All Stages of MAID
For British Columbians to know and understand all the health care options available to them.
What happens before, during, and after a medically assisted death.
Support and connection to people with a loved one who is considering MAID or those grieving a loss
Further Reading Material
Report into Canadians' attitudes, and perspectives on MAID at a pivotal point in the country's ongoing conversation about end-of-life choice.
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This brochure aims to answer any questions, provide practical information, and ease your concerns on your Medical Assistance of Dying journey.
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It is important to discuss your wishes with loved ones and anyone who can support you. Whatever you decide, your health care team is here to give you the care you want and to honour and respect your wishes.
Who is eligible for medical assistance in dying?
In order to be eligible to receive medical assistance in dying, a person must meet all of the following criteria:
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Be eligible for health services publicly funded by a government in Canada, such as being registered or eligible
for B.C.’s Medical Services Plan;​
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Be at least 18 years of age and capable of making decisions about their health;​
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Have made a voluntary request for medical assistance in dying that, in particular, was not made as a result of external pressure;
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Have given informed consent to receive medical assistance in dying after being informed of the means that are available to relieve their suffering, including palliative care; and
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Have a grievous and irremediable medical condition, which means:
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​they have a serious and incurable illness, disease or disability*;
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they are in an advanced state of decline that cannot be reversed; and
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that illness, disease or disability or that state of decline causes them enduring physical or psychological suffering that is intolerable to them and cannot be relieved under conditions that they consider acceptable.
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* Note: For the purposes of eligibility for medical assistance in dying, a mental illness is not considered to be an “illness, disease, or disability” under the current legislation. This restriction is expected to be repealed in the future.