The MAiD Procedure
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How long does the assisted death procedure take?
How long does the assisted death procedure take?
The procedure itself is relatively brief, especially with the most common method in Canada: the intravenous (IV) route.
Once the person tells the MAiD provider they are ready, they will begin administering the medications, with the process taking about 7–10 minutes. Here’s a quick breakdown of what happens:
First medication (midazolam): This is given to help the person feel calm and relaxed. Within 30 seconds to a minute, they’ll drift into a peaceful sleep.
Second medication (propofol): This is administered in three syringes over a few minutes. By the end of this step, the person is in a very deep medical coma.
Final medication (rocuronium): This stops the breathing muscles and diaphragm, leading to the cessation of breathing. A short time later, the heart stops, and the clinician will pronounce death.
There is an optional medication that will stop the heart if it continues to beat, but this is rarely needed.
For the oral route (which is far less common), the timeline can vary greatly. Each person absorbs the medication differently, so it might take 30 minutes to an hour—or sometimes longer—for the person to pass away. As a safeguard, MAiD providers typically have IV medications on hand, and there’s an agreement with the patient to proceed with IV administration if the oral route doesn’t lead to a timely and peaceful death. From what I’ve seen, though, the IV backup hasn’t been needed in these cases.