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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
When terminally ill patients request medical aid in dying (MAID), most oncologists say no. A California-based study found high opt-out rates among oncologists, forcing nearly 42% of cancer patients to pursue MAID with a physician they'd never met before. A small group of doctors ended up shouldering the bulk of MAID-related prescriptions.
When terminally ill patients in California request medical aid in dying (MAID), most oncologists are choosing to step aside. A Stanford University study published in JAMA Network Open found that among physicians who opted out of MAID cases, oncologists accounted for the majority — 12 of 16 opt-out physicians. The result? Many seriously ill patients are left searching for a willing doctor at one of the most difficult moments of their lives.
The retrospective study analyzed 130 patients who made a first MAID request between 2016 and 2021 at Stanford Health Care. Of those, 88.5% had cancer. Less than half of cancer patients (45.2%) had their primary oncologist serve as their attending physician for the MAID process, and 41.7% ended up working with a physician they had no prior relationship with.
Perhaps most striking: just 4 physicians served as attendings for nearly 38% of all patients, with one oncologist alone handling 24 cases — half of whom were not his own patients.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: As MAID becomes legal in more states, this study highlights a critical gap between policy and practice. Without broader physician participation, access to MAID remains inequitable and dependent on a handful of willing providers — a system that could be disrupted if those physicians step away.
