To request medical assistance in dying (MAID), the steps are the following:

1

Submit a written request using the Request for medical aid in dying form provided by a health professional.
For information purposes only, you can access the content of this form below.

2

Sign the form in the presence of a health professional.

3

The form must be signed by a recognized and independent witness.

** Please note that this can be done during your meeting with the health professional or at a later date.

4

The health professional is then required to sign the request, after it has been signed by the applicant and their witness, and to transfer it to the professional services department of their Integrated University Health and Social Services Center (CIUSSS), which will ensure that the person making the request is assessed by a physician who administers MAID.

Am I eligible?

To find out if you are eligible for medical assistance in dying, please click on the following link.


Who is Eligible?

View the content of the online Request for medical aid in dying (MAID) form

The ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux has issued a Request for medical aid in dying form to be signed by the applicant, by a health professional, and by a recognized and independent witness.

For information purposes only, you can access the content of this form here. It has no value unless it is used according to the prescribed conditions and it cannot be filled out to be used as an advance request.

The MSSS has also issued a form to be filled out by the second physician, confirming that the conditions for obtaining medical assistance in dying have in fact been met.


Download the Request for Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) form

What is an recognized and independent witness?

A witness is not recognized and independent if they:

Know or believe that they are a beneficiary under the will of the person making the request.

Believe that they will receive some benefit as a result of the death of the person who made the request for medical assistance in dying.

Are an owner or operator of any health care facility at which the person making the request is being treated or any facility in which that person resides.

Withdrawing or postponing a request for MAID

A person requesting medical assistance in dying is always free to change their mind and, at any time, they can:

Withdraw their request for medical assistance in dying.

Request that the administration of medical assistance in dying be postponed.

Third party signature on the form

If the person requesting medical assistance in dying cannot sign and date the form, a third party can do so in their presence and according to their directives. However, the authorized third party must meet the following conditions:

Be over 18 and capable.

Not be a member of the care team of the person requesting medical assistance in dying.

Understand the nature of the request for medical assistance in dying.

Not know or believe that he or she is a beneficiary under the will of the person requesting medical assistance in dying or that he or she will receive other material benefits as a result of the person’s death.

Check out the Quebec government's health and wellness web portal

The Quebec government’s health and wellness web portal  includes several pages dedicated to end-of-life care. It provides valuable information about end-of-life provisions in Quebec law. Changes required by federal law have been incorporated into this content.