Overcoming Challenges to Medical Aid-In-Dying

A patient, although not ideal, may establish understanding by head nods, writing, or other adaptive means traditionally used for consent to medical procedures. The patient must be conscious and aware of what they are communicating up to and through ingestion.

Alternative means of “self-administration” into the digestive tract are available, acceptable, and practical. For instance, the medication may be introduced to the digestive tract by: rectum (enema), ostomy, or feeding tube (NG, PEG or J tube).

The patient must swallow the medication, or “push the plunger” when given by alternative method.