What it Means to be a MAiD-Positive Therapist

What it Means to be a MAiD-Positive Therapist
 
Medical Assistance in Dying, or MAiD, has become increasingly popular in Canada as its availability increases, which means more people are talking about it, which means more people are talking about it in therapy. So, I decided it’s time to talk about what it means (and doesn’t mean) to be a MAiD-Positive Therapist.

But first….
 
What is MAiD?
 
MAiD is a process where eligible individuals request and receive assistance from medical professionals to end their life when they choose. This decision is deeply personal, and for many, it represents an assertion of control and dignity at the end of life.
MAiD is highly regulated, with eligibility criteria for people seeking out a MAiD death, and regulations for the health care providers administering it. This blog post is not meant to cover the details of the process, or requirements, as those are continuing to develop. If you’d like up-to-date information on the process in Canada please check here: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-services-benefits/medical-assistance-dying.html
 
What Does it Mean to be MAiD-Positive?
 
Being a MAiD-positive therapist means making space to talk about MAiD. It means understanding that death is part of life, and that people have thoughts, feelings, and wishes about death and dying; it means recognizing and respecting the legal right of individuals to make decisions about their own death. It means offering a non-judgmental, compassionate, and empathetic environment where clients can explore their thoughts, feelings, and wishes about the end of life.
 
As a MAiD Positive Therapist, I will NEVER:

• Provide medical advice, instead I’ll listen to your story and what it means to you.
• Influence your decisions making, instead I’ll walk alongside you as you contemplate your options and explore your thoughts and feelings about those options.
• Impose my own thoughts or beliefs, instead I’ll let you know that my belief is that you are the only person who can choose what is right for you.
• Confuse thoughts or questions about MAiD with suicidality, instead I’ll let you know that having thoughts about dying when you are living with difficult medical circumstances makes sense, and that I’m here to talk with you about it.

My Core Values of a MAiD-Positive Approach:

1. Respecting Bodily Autonomy: At the heart of a MAiD-positive approach is respect for the client’s bodily autonomy. This means supporting a client’s right to make decisions about their own body and life, including choices about their death. I honour this autonomy by creating space for the client to openly discuss their wishes without fear of judgment or bias.
   
2. Non-Judgmental, Compassionate Listening: Being MAiD-positive involves offering a safe, compassionate environment where clients feel they can discuss their feelings freely. I will always listen with compassion and curiosity.
   
3. Understanding that MAiD is Not Suicide: MAiD is different from suicide. MAiD is sought by individuals suffering from severe illnesses who wish to avoid unnecessary suffering and maintain dignity in their final days, rather than an escape from life itself, so if someone talks about MAiD, or death, or mortality, I will understand that is not the same as talking about suicide.
   
4. Not Every MAiD Conversation is an End-of-Life Conversation: Sometimes people talk about MAiD when they don’t want to pursue it. It could come up if someone is in a lot of pain, or struggling, or not sure what their options are and feel stuck. I make space for any conversation about MAiD, and will work to understand what it means to each person.

 
In Conclusion
 
Being a MAiD-positive therapist means being open to all conversations about MAiD in a compassionate, curious, and non-judgemental way. It means respecting bodily autonomy and empowering clients to make their own choices. It means making space for clients to explore their own thoughts, beliefs, wishes, and values. It means understanding that dying is part of living and acknowledging the importance of helping people process choices about the end of their lives.
 
​
By Joy Pekar (she/her)
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)

 
Thank you to Renee Moor and her team at Journey Home for Empowered Living and Dying for coining the term “MAiD-Positive” and for supporting me as I elaborate on what it means to me.
 
https://www.journeyhomesupport.com/