Medical Aid in Dying is not currently available under New Hampshire law.
For some individuals facing advanced illness, this leads to difficult decisions about whether to seek care in another state where the option is authorized, such as Vermont or Oregon. Each state has specific eligibility requirements and defined medical safeguards.
The information below is intended to help you understand how these laws work and to address common questions. If you are considering this path, we encourage you to speak with trusted clinicians, loved ones, and hospice or palliative care providers.
Learn more about New Hampshire’s legislative efforts on our Policy page. You can download our MAiD Fact Sheet. You can also learn more about MAiD in Vermont.
What the Laws Require
Medical Aid in Dying laws are specific and limited. While details vary by state, the eligibility requirements are strict and are the same:
- A diagnosis of a terminal illness with anticipated survival of less than six months
- Confirmation by two clinicians
- The mental capability to make health care decisions
- A voluntary request made by the patient
- Self-administration of the medication
Clinicians must follow defined procedures and documentation requirements under state law.
Common Questions About Medical Aid In Dying
Medical aid in dying can elicit strong opinions, and people may encounter conflicting information about what is and how it is practiced. Below are clear answers to some of the most common questions/concerns. If you have other questions, let us know!
Is Medical Aid in Dying the same as suicide?
No.
Medical Aid in Dying is a legal medical option available only to mentally capable adults who have a terminal diagnosis and meet strict eligibility criteria under state law.
A person requesting MAiD is already facing an expected death from illness. The law requires medical evaluations, confirmation of decision-making capacity, and voluntary self-administration of the medication.
In states where it is authorized, the underlying illness — not suicide — is listed as the cause of death.
Is MAiD the same as euthanasia?
No.
Euthanasia involves one person directly administering a lethal medication to another. Euthanasia is not legal in any U.S. state.
Medical Aid in Dying laws require that the patient self-administer the medication and remain in control of the decision throughout the process.
Is this a “slippery slope” toward broader practices?
Decades of experience in states with long-standing laws show no evidence of expansion into euthanasia or involuntary practices.
MAiD statutes are specific and limited. Eligibility criteria and reporting requirements are defined in law.
Will vulnerable people be pressured or coerced?
MAiD is voluntary and patient-initiated.
Eligibility requires confirmation that a person:
- Has decision-making capacity
- Is acting voluntarily
- Meets the medical criteria established in law
Published state reports have not identified patterns of coercion or exploitation. Disability rights organizations in states with long experience under these laws have reported no documented cases of abuse within the statutory framework.
Will doctors be forced to participate?
No.
Participation by clinicians is strictly voluntary. Health care providers may decline to participate for any reason.
What about people who are depressed?
A person must demonstrate the capacity to make health care decisions.
If there is concern about impaired judgment, referral for mental health evaluation is required. A finding of impaired decision-making disqualifies the person from proceeding under the law.
Does MAiD replace hospice or palliative care?
No.
In states where it is legal, MAiD is considered by many clinicians to be one option within the continuum of end-of-life care.
Most people who choose MAiD are enrolled in hospice. It does not replace comfort care — it exists alongside it for individuals whose suffering cannot be adequately relieved and who meet legal criteria.
Will insurance companies deny treatment and offer MAiD instead?
Allegations of this have been investigated in states where MAiD is legal and have not been substantiated.
Insurance companies do not determine eligibility for MAiD. Eligibility is determined by physicians under state law.
What happens if the medication is not used?
Some people receive a prescription and never take it. Simply having the option can provide peace of mind.
Unused medications must be disposed of according to state and federal regulations.
A Note on Perspective
For some individuals facing advanced illness, medical aid in dying is a last-resort option — chosen carefully, voluntarily, and within the law.
A just and compassionate health care system should relieve suffering whenever possible. And yet, even with excellent hospice and palliative care, some people experience suffering that cannot be adequately alleviated. For those individuals, MAiD may be a desired option.
Want to learn more?
Visit our Policy page for more details about eligibility requirements and statutory protections. Medical Aid in Dying: What it Is, What it Is Not