Updated July 2, 2026
Your role in MAiD
As an NP in B.C., you may assess eligibility for MAiD, provide MAiD, or support clients seeking or receiving MAiD. You are never required to participate. If you have a conscientious objection, BCCNM standards require you to take reasonable steps to ensure continuity of care.
BCCNM standards that apply
Training and education
Online course for nurses
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) for Nurses (RNs, RPNs, and LPNs) is available through the
Provincial Health Services Authority learning hub. This course is designed for nurses in B.C. and covers the NP's role in MAiD.
Canadian MAiD Curriculum (CAMAP) is the first nationally accredited, bilingual training program for physicians and NPs who assess and provide MAiD.
Browse the
curriculum topic areas to see what each module covers before registering.
Legislation and national practice standards
Federal legislation and policy
Model Practice Standard
The
Model Practice Standard for Medical Assistance in Dying was developed by an independent task group convened by Health Canada. It applies to both physicians and NPs and covers eligibility, safeguards, conscientious objection, and documentation expectations.
Reporting requirements
NPs who receive a MAiD request or provide MAiD must submit a report to Health Canada under the Regulations for the Monitoring of Medical Assistance in Dying. This is a legal requirement.
Reporting in BC
NPs providing MAiD must submit the relevant provincial forms to the BC Ministry of Health. If you are providing MAiD through a health authority program, also submit a copy of the forms to your health authority MAiD coordination service. Contact your health authority if you are unsure of the process.
|
BC government and health authority resources
Health authority MAiD coordination services
MAiD coordination services can support NPs who are new to MAiD, unsure of local processes, or looking for a second assessor. They are also a point of contact if you have a conscientious objection and need to facilitate a referral.
|
Legal and professional liability resources
Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS)
-
CNPS MAiD resource page — what every nurse should know about MAiD, including legal risks, documentation, and consent
-
CNPS NP Corner — NP-specific webinar series including sessions on the current state of MAiD law (Criminal Code provisions, court decisions, Track 1 and Track 2)
College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC)
MAiD data and annual reports
Palliative care clinical resources
MAiD requests often arise in the context of serious illness. These resources support NPs with the broader palliative and end-of-life care work that surrounds MAiD practice.
BC Centre for Palliative Care
BC palliative care clinical guidelines
BC Provincial Palliative Care Consultation Line
BC has a free 24/7 consultation line staffed by hospice palliative care physicians. NPs can call for advice on symptom management, psychosocial issues, and difficult end-of-life decision making — including cases where MAiD is being considered alongside other options.
24/7 support for NPs in complex cases
The BC Provincial Palliative Care Consultation Line connects NPs directly with specialist palliative care physicians at any time. This is especially useful for NPs practising in rural or remote areas without ready access to specialist consultation.
Access the line and contact details through the
BC Palliative Care Practitioner Resource Guide.
|
Advance care planning
NPs working with clients who raise MAiD often also support advance care planning conversations. These resources are specific to the B.C. legal context.
Further reading
The following open-access research may be useful for NPs who want to understand the evidence base behind MAiD practice, including the moral complexity NPs commonly experience.