Medical Aid in Dying Webinars

ALS is the second leading diagnosis among individuals who request and use medical aid in dying. This webinar will explore how patients with ALS and other neurologic disorders who may have limited capacity due to muscle weakness are able to access medical aid in dying. Topics include how written and oral consent are obtained, the definition of “self administration,” and how family members may participate.

This presentation will focus upon the history and evolution of medical aid in dying medications, current protocols, “red flags,” possible complications, and options for ingestion. In addition, the importance of providing patient-centered informed consent, appropriate contextual support, resources, and security of storage will be discussed. Attendees will also learn the pharmacology of aid in dying compounds, their expected action, and post-ingestion effects.

Learn about the barriers and roadblocks eligible patients face when trying to access the option of medical aid in dying in states where it is authorized.

This webinar was recorded on November 5, 2020 and is part of the City of Hope End-of-Life Symposium Webinar Series.

Across multiple demographics, people support having options to end their suffering. Major opposition to passing these laws stems from religious objections and the implementation of the laws that do pass are impacted by the Catholic healthcare system. Join C&C President & CEO Kim Callinan and Samantha McGuire, American Atheists, in a frank discussion about civil liberties and learn how you can become involved in advocacy to expand end-of-life options and to ensure that these important decisions are made by patients, their loved ones and their physicians.

Watch the video here

Nine states and the District of Columbia have authorized medical aid in dying (PLEASE NOTE: as of April 8, 2021, there are now 11 jurisdictions that have authorized this practice). Two decades of data demonstrates that while the laws safeguard patient autonomy and protect terminally ill individuals, many of these safeguards are roadblocks that make it impossible for eligible people to access this compassionate end-of-life care option. Join us to hear first-hand from someone who has accessed the law and to learn what we are doing and how you can help to educate the community, healthcare professionals, health systems and hospices to ensure terminally ill adults have access to this compassion end-of-life option.

It has been more than 20 years since Oregon’s medical aid in dying law went into effect. Since then, eight more states and the District of Columbia have authorized this end-of-life care option. However, each law is slightly different. Join us for the first part of our series to learn about the differences in aid in dying laws across the country, what we have learned from over 50 combined years of data from all of the authorized states, and what you can do now, whether your state is authorized or not, to help implement medical aid in dying laws.