Building Community Capacity to Support Patients and Families Considering and Receiving Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)

Since medical assistance in dying (MAiD) became legal in Canada in 2016, efforts have focused on training providers and creating protocols. However, areas like public awareness, family support, social impacts on health, and holistic care are often overlooked. Research shows that people who face health and social barriers or inequities and request MAiD often struggle to get the care they need. These struggles are worse for persons whose death is not foreseeable (or near). While they can legally request MAiD, they cannot access publicly funded palliative care. A community-based navigation program could help identify and address these gaps. By connecting patients with health and community resources, such a program could provide ongoing, holistic, and fair access to care. My research has three goals: 1) understand the emotional needs of families whose loved ones requested MAiD and whose natural death is not foreseeable, 2) explore the care needs and resources for those facing health and social inequities and requesting MAiD, and 3) create and evaluate a community-based program that offers ongoing support for people seeking MAiD and facing health and social inequities in Vancouver Island.