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Medical Assistance in Dying


​Please note that the information in this section does not cover all legislation that may apply to medical assistance in dying. It should not be used as a substitute for the actual legislation or for obtaining appropriate legal advice.

 

Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) is legal in Canada and regulated under the Criminal Code. Under specific conditions, a person can request and receive help to end their life by having a physician or nurse practitioner (NP):

  • administer a medication that causes their death, or
  • prescribe or provide a medication to the person that he/she self-administers to cause their death

Only physicians and NPs can:

  • determine who is eligible for MAiD
  • provide MAiD

As per their scopes of practice, LPNs, RNs, and RPNs are not permitted to engage in the following activities under any circumstances:

  • determine eligibility
  • provide MAiD

In this section

The nurse's role in MAiD—LPN, RN and RPN Case study: How do I know if I have a conscientious objection?​​
FAQs Resources