What is Medical Aid-in-Dying?
Medical aid-in-dying occurs when a terminally ill, mentally competent, adult patient self-administers prescribed medication, to end suffering and achieve a peaceful death.
What are the requirements for a medical aid-in-dying?
To receive the aid-in-dying medication, a person must:
- Be 18 years or older and a resident of California.
- Have a terminal disease that cannot be cured or reversed and is expected to result in death within six months.
- Have the capacity to make medical decisions and not have impaired judgment due to a mental disorder.
With a profound understanding of the emotional, physical, and ethical dimensions of end-of-life decisions, he offers medical aid in dying to those who seek it.
Dr. Eckerling believes in empowering his patients with informed choices, ensuring they receive the utmost care and dignity in their final journey.
Who is involved?
Skilled attendance on the aid in dying:
Having good support for yourself and your loved ones on the day of aid in dying is very important. It frees your loved ones to do what they do best – love you, instead of worrying about this medical procedure. Many hospices will allow their staff to be present before and after taking the medications. Your hospice nurse, social worker or chaplain can be an essential source of comfort and experience at the time of aid in dying. Privately hired nurses or end-of-life doulas can be helpful on the aid-in-dying day, and experienced volunteers are available in some states. If your hospice or other organization does not provide someone to be there for the aid-in-dying day, please feel free to contact the Academy and we will work on finding a qualified person to be there for you and your family.
Meet with me.
As a medical aid-in-dying physician, I support you, and your family and friends at your end of life. Is this right for you?