Some people may be surprised to hear how early physician-assisted suicide became legally available in the United States. Oregon enacted the Death with Dignity Act on October 27, 1997. They were the first state to allow terminally ill patients to choose MAID.

An adult capable of making decisions, with a prognosis of 6 months or less to live due to their terminal illness, can legally receive MAID.

At the time of writing this, there are now 14 U.S. jurisdictions that allow for it (this includes Washington, D.C.).

Supporters of Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) often use the word dignity. They will claim that it is part of someone's dignity to make this decision.

Oregon reports concerns of the patients who utilize MAID through their state. The top three concerns are losing autonomy (89%), being less able to engage in activities making life enjoyable (89%), and loss of dignity (65%).

The claim

Those who support the claim for dignity may say something like this. When someone becomes old, frail, and is diagnosed with a terminal illness, there isn't much more they can control.

The best choice for these people must be to allow them a controllable death. A choice for their own human dignity.

Unfortunately, a lot of people choose this form of "dignity" early. This is blunt, but you don't need to be bedridden to be added to MAID's death toll.

Part of me considers whether some people who utilize MAID actually lose dignity when culture infers that they have. Maybe what these people needed was just more encouragement, and a better outlook on their situation.

The Webster dictionary gives this as one of its definitions for dignity:
"the quality or state of being worthy of honor or respect."1

A desire for dignity

People often want an acceptable, and even honorable appearance. They want to have a respectable control over themselves.

I get that, I do. I want the best for everyone, and I don't want to see people suffer. But I also don't want them to confuse death with dignity.

It is so unfortunate that we would elevate a flawed solution to the point it has reached now. There were over 16,000 MAID provisions in Canada in 2024.2

It comes at a cost

Dignified choices should reflect what's best for those around you, not just yourself. What kind of message does choosing MAID leave to those influenced by you? Does it say life can be discarded?

Also, I want to make a point here. When will we refrain from promoting this as a dignified choice? Because it's not. I know this isn't an easy topic, but we can't continue to promote it like it's all okay.

Health care has other options like palliative and hospice care. Medicine continues to advance while MAID gives a direct but costly solution to pain. It costs life, the very thing that doctors should not harm.

It's difficult

I watched a video clip of a woman saying that nobody should be in the conversation besides the person making the choice and the doctor.

It can hurt to consider the people who suffer, and those who believe this is truly the right thing. However, I want people to realize the intent. Intent to aid life (promote its quality) vs. intent to aid death (or kill).

There are doctors who have recognized MAID's issues and who believe in better approaches. It might be difficult, but this is about somebody's life! It's not something to take lightly.

In conclusion

To answer my title of whether MAID is what dignity is, I claim that it's not. I see too many issues, and I have a hard time accepting that self-inflicted (and doctor-aided) death is dignified, respectable, or honorable.

I know that's harsh, and I'm sorry if you are in a tight place. I feel for you, and I genuinely hope the best for you and/or your loved one.

When we are given something as sacred as life, we must uphold it. We must value it. Let's make choices and stand for solutions that honor the lives we have been blessed with. Let's make this our respectable, honorable, and dignified decision - to choose life.

If we are faced with end-of-life choices, let's seek options that fight for life. If loved ones are seeking MAID, let's try to encourage them about their meaning and value. Let's offer genuine help. I believe in pointing to hope, faith, and purpose.

I believe life is a sacred gift from God. I encourage you to keep fighting for it!