Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) is a legal, voluntary practice allowing terminally ill, mentally capable adults with six months or less to live to self-administer prescribed medication to end their lives peacefully. In New York State, the law authorizing Medical Aid in Dying was signed on February 6, 2026, and will go into effect on August 5, 2026. MAID empowers the dying person, honors their autonomy, and allows them to choose the time, date, and manner of their death.

In New York State, a person must: Be older than 18 years old. Have a terminal illness, and a life expectancy of six months or less. Possess the ability to ingest the medication orally, rectally, or via feeding tube. Be of full mental capacity to understand their decision.

Yes. Two physicians must certify that you have less than six months left to live if your disease follows its normal progression. MAID is NOT legal for issues of chronic pain, mental illness, or depression in the United States. If you are suffering from chronic pain or psychiatric illness, the care coordinators at Quiĕtus may be able to help you identify appropriate resources and support for your situation.

Medical Aid in Dying in the US is only available for people who are terminally ill: two physicians certify that they have less than six months to live if their disease follows its normal progression. MAID differs from suicide legally, medically, and conceptually- the intent of MAID is not self-harm or self-destruction in a violent manner. Euthanasia implies that a third party administers a medication which ends a person’s life. Euthanasia is not legal in the US. With MAID, the individual must be able to ingest the medication themselves, or else push a plunger to administer it rectally or via a feeding tube.

When you contact Quiĕtus, our care coordinators will meet with you and your family to understand your situation and explain the MAID process in plain language. Quiĕtus will help you connect with an independent attending physician, who will conduct a formal medical assessment and certify your eligibility. A second independent consulting physician will also confirm your eligibility. A psychological assessment by an independent licensed psychologist or psychiatrist is required by NY law to verify that you are of full mental capacity and have not been coerced.   There is a series of required oral and written requests under NY law, including a verbal request for MAID recorded by audio or video. Quiĕtus will guide you through each of these steps and help manage the required documentation.   If approved, your attending physician will write a prescription for MAID medication. There is a mandatory 5-day waiting period before the pharmacy may dispense it. Quiĕtus will coordinate pharmacy arrangements. You have the right to change your mind at any time. Quiĕtus will also help your family with arrangements for removal and cremation/burial after the death.

VSED is when a terminally ill, mentally capable individual decides to control their own dying by making a conscious decision to refuse food and fluid of any kind, including artificial nutrition and/or hydration, in order to advance the time of their death. With the right support, a determined and well-informed individual can comfortably choose the end-of-life option of VSED.

You can change your mind at any point in this process. The whole idea of MAID is to give terminally ill people ultimate control over their own lives and deaths. We should all have this right as human beings, but it is completely up to you whether you exercise this right or not.

Quiĕtus is a MAID care coordination service. We help terminally ill New Yorkers navigate the Medical Aid in Dying process from first inquiry through bereavement. Our services include: plain-language education about the NY MAID Act; connection with independent licensed attending and consulting physicians; coordination of required medical and psychological evaluations; administrative support for documentation and written requests; pharmacy coordination; preparation support for patients and families; and bereavement follow-up. All clinical services are provided by independent licensed clinicians who are not employed by Quiĕtus. Our care coordinators are available to answer questions and provide guidance throughout the process.

Hospice provides essential comfort and dignity for terminally ill individuals and their families. Quiĕtus strongly recommends that all clients pursuing Medical Aid in Dying enroll in hospice for symptom management, psychosocial, spiritual, and bereavement support. However, most hospices do not provide comprehensive support for MAID. Quiĕtus's care coordination team will work closely with your hospice program to ensure that all of your needs — for both MAID and day-to-day quality of life — are addressed.

Quietus affiliated providers cover the NYC metropolitan area, Westchester and Nassau counties, as well as the Hudson Valley. If you live in another region within New York State, please reach out to discuss your particular situation.

Some insurance plans may cover the cost of the MAID medications. Quiĕtus's care coordination services are private-pay only, and a sliding scale is available for clients who demonstrate financial need. Clinical services provided by independent attending physicians and other licensed clinicians are billed separately and may have their own fee arrangements. Please contact us to discuss your particular situation.

Navigating Medical Aid in Dying in New York is complex. The law has specific eligibility requirements, documentation requirements, waiting periods, and procedures that can be overwhelming — especially for someone who is already seriously ill. Quiĕtus's care coordinators have deep expertise in end-of-life care and the NY MAID Act, and are dedicated to making this process as smooth and dignified as possible. We handle the logistics so that you and your family can focus on what matters most. We maintain a vetted panel of experienced independent physicians and other clinicians who are knowledgeable in MAID, so you don't have to search for a willing provider on your own.