Doctors and Care Facilities

Two doctors are required to be involved when you choose Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) under California’s End of Life Option Act (EOLOA). EOLCCA can help you identify an appropriate physician. If you are a physician new to prescribing MAiD, we will be happy to connect you with a seasoned practitioner for guidance.

This page describes the roles and responsibilities of these medical professionals and institutions:

Attending Physician
Consulting Physician
Mental Health Specialist
Care Facility

Types of Doctors

Attending Physician

The law requires the Attending Physician to be the doctor with primary responsibility for treating you. This could be the specialist, your primary care doctor, your palliative doctor or another physician.

It’s important to note that the information filed with the State Department of Public Health is confidential and is collected in such a way that protects your and your family’s privacy.

In addition to confirming your eligibility to receive MAiD, the Attending Physician has the following responsibilities:

  • Documenting in your medical record all your oral and written requests, as well as their own assessment, confirmation that they fulfilled all the requirements of the EOLOA, and the details of the prescription.
  • Within 30 days of writing the prescription, filing a form with all these details with the State Department of Public Health.
  • Within 30 days after your death, whether from the medication or any other cause, filing a follow up form with the State Department of Public Health.

Consulting Physician

The Consulting Physician is typically chosen by your Attending Physician, must have the medical qualifications to understand your disease, but must be independent from the Attending Physician.

The Consulting Physician has the following responsibilities:

  • Examine you and your medical records and confirm that you do have a terminal disease with no more than 6 months to live.
  • Confirm your competence to make this decision, and that you understand the consequences of your choice.
  • Refer you to a Mental Health Specialist if they believe you may have a mental disorder that may interfere with your decision making.
  • Document their findings in your medical record and in a report to your Attending Physician.

Mental Health Specialist

If either your Attending or Consulting Physician believes you have a mental disorder that may disrupt your ability to make an informed decision, they must refer you to a Mental Health Specialist. A Mental Health Specialist must be either a doctor of psychiatry or a licensed psychologist.

The Mental Health Specialist has the following responsibilities:

  • Examine you and your medical records.
  • Determine that you are not suffering from a mental disorder which would impair your judgment.
  • Determine that you are competent to make this decision.
  • Document their findings in your medical record.

Types of Care Facilities

Care Facility

Residents have rights if they live in a care facility and choose to use MAiD.

Residents living in one of the facilities listed at left and who are determined to be qualified to obtain the aid-in-dying drug (“qualified resident”) retain the rights to obtain and self-administer the prescription, regardless of whether the facility has decided to prohibit employees from participating in activities pursuant to the EOLOA. The decision of a qualified resident to exercise their rights under this law shall not be basis for an eviction.  For complete details, please find the entire Provider Information Notice (PIN) here.

  • Adult Residential Facility (ARF)
  • Adult Residential Facility for Persons with Special Health Care Needs (ARFPSHN)
  • Residential Care Facility for the Chronically Ill (RCFCI)
  • Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (RCFE)
  • Social Rehabilitation Facility (SRF)
Required Forms

Within 30 days of writing the prescription for MAID, the attending physician must submit the following forms to the California Department of Public Health. (NOTE: Here is a link to the Forms Submission Instructions.)


Within 30 days of the patient’s ingestion of the medication (or death from any cause, whichever comes first), the attending physician must submit:


The forms are also available on the CDPH site. They can be submitted via an online portal (the preferred method) or via email or fax:
Email Address
Fax: 916.636.6045

Paper forms can also be mailed to CDPH in Sacramento. (If you use this method, always make sure the address is current.)

California Department of Public Health
Research and Analytics Branch
Attention: End of Life Option Act
MS 5205
P.O. Box 997377
Sacramento, CA 95899-7377