If you’re considering medical assistance in dying (MAID), you may be wondering how the process unfolds.
This guide walks through the key stages of the process. You can move at your own pace, pause at any time, and explore more detail when you’re ready.
It’s common to feel uncertain or just curious. Many people are simply trying to understand whether MAID could apply to them.
Autonomy / personal control
Being able to make your own decisions about your life and care
Honouring responsibilities to others
Fulfilling your duties, roles, or commitments to the people who depend on you
Independence
Being able to care for yourself without relying heavily on others
Caring for others
Supporting, protecting, or being present for the people you care about
Personal growth
Continuing to learn, reflect, and grow as a person
Physical health and strength
Maintaining your physical abilities, comfort, and overall health
Mental and emotional well-being
Feeling at peace, stable, and emotionally supported
Faith, spirituality, or beliefs
Living in alignment with your spiritual, religious, or personal belief
Supporting your community
Contributing to causes, groups, or communities that matter to you
Physical activities
walking, dancing, cycling, or other movement
Thinking and learning
writing, reading, puzzles, or exploring new ideas
Creative expression
music, art, crafts, or making something by hand
Community involvement
clubs, volunteering, or faith-based groups
Time with others
spending time with friends, family, or loved ones
Many people feel unsure or overwhelmed at this stage. Health care systems can be complex, and focusing on one step at a time can make things feel more manageable.
Autonomy / personal control
Being able to make your own decisions about your life and care
Honouring responsibilities to others
Fulfilling your duties, roles, or commitments to the people who depend on you
Independence
Being able to care for yourself without relying heavily on others
Caring for others
Supporting, protecting, or being present for the people you care about
Personal growth
Continuing to learn, reflect, and grow as a person
Physical health and strength
Maintaining your physical abilities, comfort, and overall health
Mental and emotional well-being
Feeling at peace, stable, and emotionally supported
Faith, spirituality, or beliefs
Living in alignment with your spiritual, religious, or personal belief
Supporting your community
Contributing to causes, groups, or communities that matter to you
Physical activities
walking, dancing, cycling, or other movement
Thinking and learning
writing, reading, puzzles, or exploring new ideas
Creative expression
music, art, crafts, or making something by hand
Community involvement
clubs, volunteering, or faith-based groups
Time with others
spending time with friends, family, or loved ones
For many people, MAID assessments are an emotionally powerful experience. It’s common to feel stressed, nervous, curious, relieved, or something else. There’s no “right” way to feel.
Autonomy / personal control
Being able to make your own decisions about your life and care
Honouring responsibilities to others
Fulfilling your duties, roles, or commitments to the people who depend on you
Independence
Being able to care for yourself without relying heavily on others
Caring for others
Supporting, protecting, or being present for the people you care about
Personal growth
Continuing to learn, reflect, and grow as a person
Physical health and strength
Maintaining your physical abilities, comfort, and overall health
Mental and emotional well-being
Feeling at peace, stable, and emotionally supported
Faith, spirituality, or beliefs
Living in alignment with your spiritual, religious, or personal belief
Supporting your community
Contributing to causes, groups, or communities that matter to you
Physical activities
walking, dancing, cycling, or other movement
Thinking and learning
writing, reading, puzzles, or exploring new ideas
Creative expression
music, art, crafts, or making something by hand
Community involvement
clubs, volunteering, or faith-based groups
Time with others
spending time with friends, family, or loved ones
Waiting for a decision can feel intense. Many people experience a mix of hope, uncertainty, and tension.
Autonomy / personal control
Being able to make your own decisions about your life and care
Honouring responsibilities to others
Fulfilling your duties, roles, or commitments to the people who depend on you
Independence
Being able to care for yourself without relying heavily on others
Caring for others
Supporting, protecting, or being present for the people you care about
Personal growth
Continuing to learn, reflect, and grow as a person
Physical health and strength
Maintaining your physical abilities, comfort, and overall health
Mental and emotional well-being
Feeling at peace, stable, and emotionally supported
Faith, spirituality, or beliefs
Living in alignment with your spiritual, religious, or personal belief
Supporting your community
Contributing to causes, groups, or communities that matter to you
Physical activities
walking, dancing, cycling, or other movement
Thinking and learning
writing, reading, puzzles, or exploring new ideas
Creative expression
music, art, crafts, or making something by hand
Community involvement
clubs, volunteering, or faith-based groups
Time with others
spending time with friends, family, or loved ones
Being eligible for MAID doesn’t mean you have to choose a date immediately. Many people take time to reflect on what feels right.
Autonomy / personal control
Being able to make your own decisions about your life and care
Honouring responsibilities to others
Fulfilling your duties, roles, or commitments to the people who depend on you
Independence
Being able to care for yourself without relying heavily on others
Caring for others
Supporting, protecting, or being present for the people you care about
Personal growth
Continuing to learn, reflect, and grow as a person
Physical health and strength
Maintaining your physical abilities, comfort, and overall health
Mental and emotional well-being
Feeling at peace, stable, and emotionally supported
Faith, spirituality, or beliefs
Living in alignment with your spiritual, religious, or personal belief
Supporting your community
Contributing to causes, groups, or communities that matter to you
Physical activities
walking, dancing, cycling, or other movement
Thinking and learning
writing, reading, puzzles, or exploring new ideas
Creative expression
music, art, crafts, or making something by hand
Community involvement
clubs, volunteering, or faith-based groups
Time with others
spending time with friends, family, or loved ones
These conversations can be difficult and may bring up strong emotions or differing perspectives. Many people need time to process and may revisit them more than once.
Autonomy / personal control
Being able to make your own decisions about your life and care
Honouring responsibilities to others
Fulfilling your duties, roles, or commitments to the people who depend on you
Independence
Being able to care for yourself without relying heavily on others
Caring for others
Supporting, protecting, or being present for the people you care about
Personal growth
Continuing to learn, reflect, and grow as a person
Physical health and strength
Maintaining your physical abilities, comfort, and overall health
Mental and emotional well-being
Feeling at peace, stable, and emotionally supported
Faith, spirituality, or beliefs
Living in alignment with your spiritual, religious, or personal belief
Supporting your community
Contributing to causes, groups, or communities that matter to you
Physical activities
walking, dancing, cycling, or other movement
Thinking and learning
writing, reading, puzzles, or exploring new ideas
Creative expression
music, art, crafts, or making something by hand
Community involvement
clubs, volunteering, or faith-based groups
Time with others
spending time with friends, family, or loved ones
This period feels different for everyone. Many people describe a mix of calm, clarity, relief, or a sense of time feeling different than before.
Autonomy / personal control
Being able to make your own decisions about your life and care
Honouring responsibilities to others
Fulfilling your duties, roles, or commitments to the people who depend on you
Independence
Being able to care for yourself without relying heavily on others
Caring for others
Supporting, protecting, or being present for the people you care about
Personal growth
Continuing to learn, reflect, and grow as a person
Physical health and strength
Maintaining your physical abilities, comfort, and overall health
Mental and emotional well-being
Feeling at peace, stable, and emotionally supported
Faith, spirituality, or beliefs
Living in alignment with your spiritual, religious, or personal belief
Supporting your community
Contributing to causes, groups, or communities that matter to you
Physical activities
walking, dancing, cycling, or other movement
Thinking and learning
writing, reading, puzzles, or exploring new ideas
Creative expression
music, art, crafts, or making something by hand
Community involvement
clubs, volunteering, or faith-based groups
Time with others
spending time with friends, family, or loved ones
For some people, taking care of final details brings a sense of clarity or ease. Others prefer to keep things simple and trust that enough is already in place.
Autonomy / personal control
Being able to make your own decisions about your life and care
Honouring responsibilities to others
Fulfilling your duties, roles, or commitments to the people who depend on you
Independence
Being able to care for yourself without relying heavily on others
Caring for others
Supporting, protecting, or being present for the people you care about
Personal growth
Continuing to learn, reflect, and grow as a person
Physical health and strength
Maintaining your physical abilities, comfort, and overall health
Mental and emotional well-being
Feeling at peace, stable, and emotionally supported
Faith, spirituality, or beliefs
Living in alignment with your spiritual, religious, or personal belief
Supporting your community
Contributing to causes, groups, or communities that matter to you
Physical activities
walking, dancing, cycling, or other movement
Thinking and learning
writing, reading, puzzles, or exploring new ideas
Creative expression
music, art, crafts, or making something by hand
Community involvement
clubs, volunteering, or faith-based groups
Time with others
spending time with friends, family, or loved ones
This moment can bring clarity, calm, or mixed emotions. Many people supporting someone through this experience describe this time as meaningful and deeply personal.
Autonomy / personal control
Being able to make your own decisions about your life and care
Honouring responsibilities to others
Fulfilling your duties, roles, or commitments to the people who depend on you
Independence
Being able to care for yourself without relying heavily on others
Caring for others
Supporting, protecting, or being present for the people you care about
Personal growth
Continuing to learn, reflect, and grow as a person
Physical health and strength
Maintaining your physical abilities, comfort, and overall health
Mental and emotional well-being
Feeling at peace, stable, and emotionally supported
Faith, spirituality, or beliefs
Living in alignment with your spiritual, religious, or personal belief
Supporting your community
Contributing to causes, groups, or communities that matter to you
Physical activities
walking, dancing, cycling, or other movement
Thinking and learning
writing, reading, puzzles, or exploring new ideas
Creative expression
music, art, crafts, or making something by hand
Community involvement
clubs, volunteering, or faith-based groups
Time with others
spending time with friends, family, or loved ones
This can be a quiet, intimate time. People may experience a mix of love, grief, uncertainty, and other emotions. These responses are all normal.
Autonomy / personal control
Being able to make your own decisions about your life and care
Honouring responsibilities to others
Fulfilling your duties, roles, or commitments to the people who depend on you
Independence
Being able to care for yourself without relying heavily on others
Caring for others
Supporting, protecting, or being present for the people you care about
Personal growth
Continuing to learn, reflect, and grow as a person
Physical health and strength
Maintaining your physical abilities, comfort, and overall health
Mental and emotional well-being
Feeling at peace, stable, and emotionally supported
Faith, spirituality, or beliefs
Living in alignment with your spiritual, religious, or personal belief
Supporting your community
Contributing to causes, groups, or communities that matter to you
Physical activities
walking, dancing, cycling, or other movement
Thinking and learning
writing, reading, puzzles, or exploring new ideas
Creative expression
music, art, crafts, or making something by hand
Community involvement
clubs, volunteering, or faith-based groups
Time with others
spending time with friends, family, or loved ones
Deciding what feels right for your end-of-life care means understanding all your options, including medical assistance in dying.
Exploring your choices is an important step. Take your time making decisions that feel right for you. You can return to this information when and if you choose to.
Take time to reflect on what’s most important to you
Learn more about the MAID process
Hear what the MAID process was like from real people who have supported someone through it
Autonomy / personal control
Being able to make your own decisions about your life and care
Honouring responsibilities to others
Fulfilling your duties, roles, or commitments to the people who depend on you
Independence
Being able to care for yourself without relying heavily on others
Caring for others
Supporting, protecting, or being present for the people you care about
Personal growth
Continuing to learn, reflect, and grow as a person
Physical health and strength
Maintaining your physical abilities, comfort, and overall health
Mental and emotional well-being
Feeling at peace, stable, and emotionally supported
Faith, spirituality, or beliefs
Living in alignment with your spiritual, religious, or personal belief
Supporting your community
Contributing to causes, groups, or communities that matter to you
Physical activities
walking, dancing, cycling, or other movement
Thinking and learning
writing, reading, puzzles, or exploring new ideas
Creative expression
music, art, crafts, or making something by hand
Community involvement
clubs, volunteering, or faith-based groups
Time with others
spending time with friends, family, or loved ones