Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) as an End of Life Option
Tuesday, September 12th, 11 AM. This is an in person presentation for Elizabeth Hospice Volunteers.
Lynne Calkins, founding director of End Of Life Choices California (EOLCCA) will present the latest updates to California’s End of Life Option Act (EOLOA), trends in the utilization of Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD), barriers to its use, and opportunities for coordination between EOLCCA and hospice.
The presentation will cover such topics as:
- Advance care planning – Advance care planning is a process that enables individuals to make plans about their future health care. Advance care planning is applicable to adults at all stages of life. Participation in advance care planning has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety for patients and their families, and lead to improvements in end of life care.
- Updates to the California End of Life Option Act – as of January 1, 2022:
- The new bill reduces the waiting period between the required two oral requests to 48 hours.
- Healthcare systems and hospices now have to post their aid-in-dying policies on their websites.
- The final attestation form is no longer needed.
- The amendment also clarifies that MAID medication can be taken within a healthcare facility.
- Eligibility Requirements for MAID – Must be 18 years or older; Must be of sound mind and exhibit appropriate decision-making capabilities to the attending physician; Must be able to self-ingest the medication either orally or by pushing through an NG tube; and Must be diagnosed with a terminal disease, with a life expectancy of six months or less, by two physicians.
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Visit EOLCCA’s Hospice page for more information about this important service.
Hospice is a philosophy, not a place, which provides compassionate comfort care at the end of life. The goal is to maintain or improve quality of life for someone whose illness, disease or condition is not going to be cured, and from which there is no anticipated recovery. Each patient’s individualized care plan is designed to address the physical, emotional and spiritual pain that often accompanies terminal illness. Hospice care also offers practical support for the family during the illness and grief support after a death. For those who have an appropriate medical referral, the cost of hospice care is usually covered by Medicare, Medicaid or a third party insurance.
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