What actually happens during a MAID death.
As an End of Life Choices California (EOLCCA) bedside client volunteer and retired medical professional, I’ve attended both medically-assisted deaths (MAID) and non-MAID deaths. Most people who qualify choose MAID because they want some control over how and when they die once they are declared terminally ill. Their diseases have already taken so much control away from them.
Sometimes people never even take the MAID prescription but feel comforted by knowing they have it in case of need. Other times the disease progresses too quickly, and they lose the capacity to ingest the medication themselves as the law requires. We advise people not to wait until the last moment to start the process of making their requests for MAID from two doctors. It can take a while to find a prescribing doctor if your physician won’t prescribe (or participate in MAID). Once prescribed, the medication must be prepared by a special compounding pharmacy and it could take up to a week to be prepared and delivered.
Our client volunteers are trained to work with people and their loved ones prior to ingestion to prepare them for the process, so they feel safe in deciding to just have family/friends present if that is their wish. However, if needed, we are honored to be there the day they take their medication.
Questions
We answer many questions in the period leading up to the day of death and on that day itself.
As questions arise, we answer them all. Typical questions include:
- What if the medications don’t work?
Answer: The MAID medications prescribed by the doctor are lethal and are intended to be fully effective. With the client and their family, we thoroughly review the medications and procedures, and confirm that the client still wishes to take them on the day of death. - How long will it take to die?
Answer: Within five to ten minutes after ingestion, the patient will fall into a deep sleep and then into a coma and be unaware of anything else. It will take between 30 minutes and possibly up to four hours or so for the patient’s heart to stop beating. The patient’s loved ones may hear a few noisy breaths as the body shuts down. We will be there supporting the family and loved ones during that period and can help explain what may be happening as the patient passes away. - Will patients soil the bed after ingestion or when they die?
Answer: No, there is no involuntary release of body fluids during this process.
Being present
Most people prefer having two of our trained client volunteers present on the day they choose to take the medication. Emotions can be intense when someone is about to die, and it can help to turn the mechanics of preparation over to an experienced neutral person familiar with the process. It allows everyone else the opportunity to concentrate solely on their person and not be distracted by monitoring timing intervals between ingestion of the anti-nausea drugs and measuring and mixing the final medications, while still being present for their loved one.
Experiences are as varied as individuals and families can be. Some people have a spiritual advisor offer a prayer or blessing. I’ve seen very quiet deaths where the volunteers withdraw to another room, leaving the group or family member alone at their request. I’ve been at deaths where the TV is on and everyone is reserved and not saying much. EOLCCA volunteers try to support their clients to have the death they want. Often the dying person is so ready for death they say things like, “Let’s get this show on the road.” Or, “I’m tired; I want to do this now.”
Mostly I’ve witnessed profound expressions of love such as: adult children and friends entwined with their dying person or stroking them tenderly, people singing to the dying, beloved pets snuggling next to their owners, last minute forgiveness amongst divisive family members, an aged taciturn father apologizing to his middle-aged son for being too hard on him, and bikers regaling each other with tales of their escapades. The common threads are deep sentiments of love towards a cherished dying person.
An honor
Afterwards, those present speak of grief, of thankfulness at being asked to be there for such an intimate experience, and recount stories about their now deceased loved one. EOLCCA has formed an online Bereavement Group specifically for family members involved in a MAID death, and we are able to offer them this option to help process their grieving.
All of EOLCCA’s 34 active volunteers consider it a privilege and an honor to help terminally-ill people, whether over the phone or in person, to have as much control as possible over when, with whom, and where they will die.
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Cynthia Tuttelman, an EOLCCA Client Volunteer, is a retired family physician and quilter living in Petaluma.
EOLCCA supports a strong team of experienced volunteers throughout the state, ready to help anyone, anywhere in California free of charge with information and support regarding all end-of-life planning and choices, including aid in dying through the California End of Life Option Act. You can find comprehensive information on our user-friendly website. To support our work, or request an educational presentation, please visit ways to help. Thank you for your support!
