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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 many patients to pursue MAID with unfamiliar physicians. Meanwhile, just a handful of doctors shouldered the vast majority of MAID-related prescriptions — raising serious concerns about access and equity at end of life.
When terminally ill patients request medical aid in dying (MAID), most oncologists step back. A retrospective study published in JAMA Network Open analyzed 130 patients at Stanford Health Care who requested MAID between 2016 and 2021 — 88.5% of whom had cancer. Researchers found that 12 of the 16 physicians who opted out were oncologists, and fewer than half of cancer patients had their own oncologist serve as their attending physician in the MAID process.
The result? Nearly 42% of cancer patients ended up pursuing MAID with a physician they had never met before. On the flip side, just 4 physicians handled nearly 38% of all MAID cases — with one oncologist alone serving as attending for 24 patients, half of whom were not his own.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: When patients face end-of-life decisions, continuity of care and trusted relationships are critical. A system where most oncologists opt out — and a tiny group of physicians absorbs the load — risks both patient dignity and sustainable access to a legally protected option.
