• Methods of medical assistance in dying
• Eligibility

In Canada, there are 2 methods of medical assistance in dying available

1. Clinician-administered medical assistance in dying: where a physician or nurse practitioner directly administers a substance that causes death, such as an injection of a drug.
2. Self-administered medical assistance in dying: where a physician or nurse practitioner provides or prescribes a drug that the eligible person takes themselves, in order to bring about their own death.

Clinical guidelines and practices outline which drugs to use, and are established by the provinces and territories.

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Eligibility

To be eligible for medical assistance in dying, you must meet all the following criteria. You must:

1. be eligible for health services funded by a province or territory, or the federal government
2. be at least 18 years old and mentally competent
3. have a grievous and irremediable medical condition
4. make a voluntary request for medical assistance in dying
5. give informed consent to receive medical assistance in dying

To be considered as having a grievous and irremediable medical condition, you must meet all of the following criteria.

You must:

1. have a serious illness, disease or disability
2. be in an advanced state of decline that cannot be reversed
3. experience unbearable physical or mental suffering from your illness, disease, disability or state of decline that cannot be relieved under conditions that you consider acceptable.

If you're experiencing a lot of pain and suffering due to your medical situation, talk to your health professional.

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