Please note that the information in this section does not cover all legislation that may apply to medical assistance in dying. It should not be used as a substitute for the actual legislation or for obtaining appropriate legal advice.
Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) is legal in Canada and regulated under the
Criminal Code. Under specific conditions, a person can request and receive help to end their life by having a physician or nurse practitioner (NP):
- administer a medication that causes their death, or
- prescribe or provide a medication to the person that he/she self-administers to cause their death
Only physicians and NPs can:
- determine who is eligible for MAiD
- provide MAiD
As per their scopes of practice,
LPNs,
RNs, and
RPNs are not permitted to engage in the following activities under any circumstances:
- determine eligibility
- provide MAiD
In this section
The nurse's role in MAiD—LPN, RN and RPN
Case study: How do I know if I have a conscientious objection?
FAQs
Resources