Practical and ethical complexities of MAiD: Examples from Quebec

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• End-of-Life Care
• Physician Experience

Background:

• Assisted dying is ethically complex, requiring more research on long-term physician effects.
• Quebec, Canada, has offered lawful medical aid in dying (MAiD) since December 2015.
• International studies note MAiD can be rewarding yet emotionally taxing for providers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the experiences of Quebec physicians regarding medical aid in dying (MAiD).
• To explore the complexities and challenges associated with providing MAiD.
• To identify gaps in current research on the long-term effects of MAiD provision.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing nine in-depth interviews with Quebec physicians.
• Participants included physicians who provided MAiD and those who did not.
• Exploration of diverse end-of-life care engagement among physicians.

Main Results:

• MAiD was perceived as qualitatively different from other end-of-life procedures.
• Key themes included MAiD's relation to aggressive treatment and conscientious objection.
• Uneven distribution of MAiD-related work among physicians was observed.

Conclusions:

• Physician experiences with MAiD are complex and contentious, warranting further investigation.
• MAiD practice remains under-researched and underreported.
• Further research is needed to understand the multifaceted nature of MAiD provision.