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MAiD is legal option allowing a physician to prescribe life-ending medications to a terminally-ill and mentally-capable adult to control the timing of their death.
If you have read the information on accessing the End of Life Option Act and all of this seems overwhelming, know that you are not alone. Many people find accessing the law difficult. That’s why we are here. Learn More.
If you are a physician who is interested in learning more about how to support your patients who request medical aid in dying, you have come to the right place. Learn More.
A consulting physician is a physician who is independent from the attending physician and who is qualified by specialty or experience to make a professional diagnosis. Learn More.
Do I Qualify for MAiD?
MAiD is legal in California under the End of Life Option Act. To qualify, individuals must be mentally competent adults with a diagnosis by two different physicians of a terminal illness expected to result in death within six months. They must make two oral requests to their attending physician, separated by no less than 48 hours, and provide the attending physician a signed written California Aid in Dying Request Form. The request form must be witnessed by two individuals, one of whom cannot be a relative or beneficiary. Click here to read more about the law.
The process for requesting and receiving MAiD in California involves several steps. Patients must first discuss their end-of-life wishes with their healthcare provider. If deemed eligible by two different physicians, they must make two oral requests, separated by 48 hours, and provide a written request form. The request must be witnessed by two individuals, one of whom cannot be a relative or beneficiary. Once the request is approved, patients can receive the necessary medications to end their lives peacefully.
Yes, there are eligibility criteria for patients seeking MAiD in California:
Significant changes to the California End of Life Option Act (EOLOA) include reducing the waiting period between two oral requests to 48 hours, removing the final attestation form requirement, and allowing healthcare providers to choose to not participate in any way due to religious or ethical objections. You can find out more about the changes on this page.
Healthcare systems and hospices in California are now required to post their aid-in-dying policies on their websites, ensuring transparency and accessibility for individuals seeking MAiD. Find out more about healthcare provider roles.
Yes, the amendments to the EOLOA clarify that MAiD medication can be taken in specific healthcare facilities in California. To read the entire Provider Information Notice (PIN) Summary PIN 23-09-ASC please click here. This PIN was issued on April 19, 2023 to All Adult and Senior Care Program Licensees by the Community Care Licensing Division of the California Department of Social Services.
End of Life Choices California offers support through highly-trained volunteers who will explain the law in detail and assist families from start to finish.
Patients and physicians seeking detailed information on accessing and providing MAiD can find resources and guidance through dedicated sections on the EOLCCA website. For patients | For attending physicians.
In 2016, California took a significant step forward in compassionate end-of-life care with the enactment of the California End of Life Option Act. This law offers eligible Californians the option to access MAiD, under specific and carefully regulated conditions and has been amended several times.
Subsequent key amendments and improvements to the original 2016 EOLOA became effective on January 1, 2022. These include: the waiting period required between the patient’s two oral requests is significantly reduced from 2 weeks to 48 hours, and healthcare systems and hospices are expected to post their aid-in-dying policies on their websites. The amendment also clarified that MAiD medication can be taken within specified healthcare facilities.
Under the law, if a terminally-ill patient requests MAID and their physician does not wish to participate, the state of California does not require doctors to participate in MAiD if they choose not to due to religious convictions or professional ethics. In further clarification due to a court ruling, as of May 2023, the physician may document the request to start the process for the patient; however, this is not a requirement.
A welcome new amendment to the original law was passed October 3, 2025 which removes the original 2031 sunset clause altogether, making the law permanent. For comprehensive EOLOA information and statistics visit the CDPH.