Medical aid in dying: how a doula can help
Updated October 16, 2026
Which states allow medical aid in dying, what the process involves, and the non-medical support a MAID-experienced doula can offer.
Where it’s legal
Medical aid in dying (MAID) lets a terminally ill adult with decision-making capacity and a prognosis of six months or less request medication they can take themselves to end their life. As of October 2026 it is authorized in Oregon, Washington, Montana (by court ruling), Vermont, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, New Jersey, Maine, New Mexico, Delaware, New York and Illinois. Each state has its own waiting periods and eligibility rules, so check your state’s law and talk with the person’s physician.
What a doula can and can’t do
A doula never provides, prepares or administers the medication, and the request must always come from the patient. What a MAID-experienced doula can do is help the person and family understand the steps, plan the day itself (who is present, music, words, ritual), stay with the family through it, and support them afterwards.
Finding someone
Filter doulas on this site by “Medical aid in dying (MAID) support.” Many work virtually for planning conversations. State pages note whether MAID is authorized in that state.