Ask ECRI: Policies and Procedures for “Medical Aid in Dying”

​An ECRI Institute member recently inquired about sample policies and procedures related to physician-assisted suicide or "medical aid in dying." The member is from a state that recently passed legislation authorizing physician-assisted suicide, bringing the total to six such states at the time of this writing.

From a risk management perspective, it is important to know exactly what the state's law requires regarding medical aid in dying, including the process that must be followed, the key requirements, and the eligibility requirements. The process should be approached as a step-by-step decision-making process, not a decision-making "event," and all elements of the process must be followed. The organization will want to ensure that the roles of all healthcare providers involved the...