What is Medical Aid in Dying?
Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) is an end-of-life option available to certain terminally ill adults who meet specific eligibility requirements. It allows an eligible person to request a prescription for medication that they may choose to take to bring about a peaceful death at a time of their choosing. The decision remains with the individual throughout the process: they must be able to make the request for themselves, and receiving the medication does not obligate them to take it. In Vermont, MAiD is authorized under the state’s medical aid-in-dying law and is available to eligible Vermont residents as well as people who travel to Vermont from other states.
Patient Choice at End of Life
Medical Aid in Dying has been legal in Vermont since 2013, when the state enacted the Patient Choice and Control at End of Life Act (Act 39). The law establishes who is eligible to use medical aid in dying and the process that patients and participating healthcare providers must follow. Vermont removed its residency requirement in May of 2023, meaning that eligible people do not need to be Vermont residents to access MAiD, although the process itself must take place within Vermont.
For those who would like to read the law in full, the complete statutory language is available through the Vermont Legislature.
Eligibility
Be 18 years of age or older
Have an incurable and irreversible illness that is expected, within reasonable medical judgment, to result in death within six months
Be capable of making and communicating their own healthcare decisions
Be making an informed decision about medical aid in dying
Make the request voluntarily, without coercion or undue influence
Be able to make the request themselves — a healthcare agent, family member, or other surrogate cannot request MAiD on someone’s behalf
Meet the required medical assessment and request process before a prescription can be written
Can I travel to Vermont for Medical Aid in Dying?
Yes. You do not need to live in Vermont to access medical aid in dying here. In 2023, Vermont removed the residency requirement from its Patient Choice and Control at End of Life law, opening this option to eligible adults who live in other states. If you are traveling to Vermont for MAiD, there are additional logistics to consider. You will need to connect with a participating Vermont physician and plan for where you will stay, where you may take the medication, what support you will have while you are here, and what will happen after your death. The details will look different for every person depending on their health, timeline, needs, and support system. You do not need to figure all of this out before getting started. Wayfinders™ are familiar with the local landscape and can help you understand your options, connect with resources, and navigate the practical pieces of coming to Vermont for MAiD.
Common Misconceptions
There is a lot of information—and sometimes misinformation—about medical aid in dying. Understanding a few of the basics can make the process feel a little less confusing.
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You do not have to be enrolled in hospice to use Vermont’s medical aid-in-dying law, and a nurse does not need to be present when you take the medication although hospice involvement is strongly encourage. Many people do choose to involve hospice because it can provide valuable medical and comfort-focused support alongside MAiD.
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Medical aid in dying must be requested by the person who intends to use it. A family member, healthcare agent, or other surrogate cannot make the request on someone else’s behalf. This is one reason it can be important to begin exploring MAiD while you are still able to make and communicate your own healthcare decisions.
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Under Vermont law, the individual—not a physician, nurse, or other person—takes the prescribed medication themselves. This is different from euthanasia, in which another person administers medication intended to cause death.
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Vermont’s law allows eligible people from other states to access MAiD, but the medication must be taken in Vermont. If you are traveling from another state, planning where you will take the medication and what will happen afterward are important parts of preparing for MAiD.
What are my next steps?
If you are considering medical aid in dying in Vermont, you do not need to have the entire process figured out before reaching out for support.
A Wayfinder™ can meet you wherever you are in the process; whether you are just beginning to explore MAiD, trying to find a participating physician, planning travel to Vermont, or already working with a medical team and wondering what comes next.
Wayfinders™ can help you understand the process, identify the decisions and arrangements ahead, connect with local resources, and create a plan that reflects what matters to you.
Each Wayfinder™ brings a different approach, experience, and style to this work. We encourage you to explore the directory and find someone who feels like the right fit for you and the people supporting you.