Medical Assistance in Dying in ALS
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Medical assistance in dying (MAiD) has been available across Canada since 2016 for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We aimed to characterize MAiD use, identify associated factors, and compare survival and location of death in a Canadian ALS cohort. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients with ALS followed at a Canadian multidisciplinary clinic who died between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2024. Patient characteristics were described by MAiD status. Factors associated with MAiD utilization were evaluated using regression analyses, and survival and location of death were compared between patients who did and did not pursue MAiD. RESULTS: < 0.001). DISCUSSION: MAiD is a common end-of-life option in ALS, reflecting patient values and is associated with lower PEG use, shorter postdiagnosis survival, and more frequent death at home.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research
Intracerebral and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Research
Parkinson's Disease and Spinal Disorders
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Neurology
- Publisher
- Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
- Volume
- 106
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- e218032–e218032
- Publication date
- 4 May 2026
- Language
- EN