Article written for the PCN Newsletter, Issue 08 – Age Well on The North Shore
As we age, many of us think more about future health decisions and what matters most to us. Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) is one option available in Canada. This article explains what MAiD is, who may qualify, and how it works in British Columbia.
MAiD is a legal and voluntary medical service. It allows an eligible adult to request help from a doctor or nurse practitioner to end their life. The goal of MAiD is to relieve intolerable suffering caused by a serious and incurable medical condition.
Who is eligible?
To quality for MAiD, a person must meet all of these conditions:
- Be 18 years or older
- Be able to make their own health decisions
- Be eligible for BC Medical Services Plan (MSP)
- Have a serious and incurable illness, disease, or disability
- Be in an advanced state of decline that cannot be reversed
- Experience suffering that they find intolerable
- Make a voluntary request, without pressure from others
Important: If a mental illness is the only medical condition, a person is not currently eligible.
How the process works in BC
On the North Shore, MAiD services are coordinated through Vancouver Coastal Health.
The process includes:
- Ask for Information – Speak with your doctor, nurse practitioner, or the health authority MAiD team.
- Written Request – Complete the official MAiD request form.
- Independent Witness – Sign the form in front of one independent witness.
- Two Assessments – Two separate clinicians must confirm that you meet the legal criteria.
- Final Consent – You must confirm your decision again before the procedure.
- Provision – If approved, the procedure is scheduled.
If natural death is not reasonably foreseeable, a minimum 90-day assessment period usually applies.
Your rights and safeguards
MAiD includes strict legal protections:
- You can change your mind at any time
- You must give informed consent
- Two independent medical professionals must assess you
- The process is confidential
What’s the difference?
| MAiD | Palliative Care | Withdrawal of Treatment | |
| Main Purpose | To intentionally end life at the person’s request | To improve comfort and quality of life | To stop treatments that are no longer wanted |
| Focus | Relieving intolerable suffering by causing death | Managing pain and symptoms | Allowing natural disease progression |
| When Used | When strict legal criteria are met | At any stage of serious illness | When a patient chooses to decline or stop treatment |
| Legal Status | Legal in Canada | Standard medical care | A patient’s legal right |
Who should I talk to if I have questions?
Start with your family doctor or nurse practitioner.
This article was written to align with the topics presented at The Fine Art of Aging – an event led by the North Shore Division of Family Practice and proudly hosted by the North Shore Primary Care Network, reflecting a shared commitment to healthy aging and stronger connections between primary care and community.