State Right-to-Die Statutes

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1. Unfortunately, as of 10/3/23 North Carolina does not have a Medical
   Aid in Dying (MAiD) law. If you’d like to support having a MAiD law
   in North Carolina, you can sign up here:
   https://deathwithdignity.org/states/north-carolina/

   Your options are:
   -Refusal of curative medical treatment and insistence on “comfort care
   only” (palliative care).
   -Hospice (which is the same as the above, but you must be terminally
   ill with six month or less to live). Hospice benefit is paid by
   Medicare.
   -North Carolina has Medical Orders for Scope of Treatment (MOST)
   Forms. These forms are not valid unless signed by your doctor and
   you. These medical order forms should be (but sometimes are not)
   followed by medical professionals.
   You can designate Do Not Resuscitate, limited interventions or comfort
   care only. See this North Carolina MOST explanation:
   https://www.compassionatecarenc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Key-Facts-about-MOST.pdf
   A sample form is here:
   https://www.ncmedsoc.org/non_members/public_resources/MOSTform_sample.pdf
   -You should additionally have an Advance Directive naming a person to
   speak for you (agent or proxy) should you become incapacitated. That
   person should have a thorough understanding of your end-of-life wishes
   and be willing to carry out your wishes even if they do not agree with
   them. A good agent is someone who has the skill to be a strong
   advocate for your wishes, sometimes in the face of pressure from
   authority figures. Family members are not always the best choice.
   You may also want a supplemental directive for dementia to add to your
   directive. These dementia supplements have not yet been tested in a
   court of law.
   -Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking. You will die by
   dehydration. This is a legal option throughout the U.S.
   One dies by dehydration, not starvation.
   Some hospices will support this option. You will certainly need
   24-hour care with this option. Comfort drugs are highly recommended.
   -Travel to a state that permits MAiD, gain residency and request MAiD.
   Currently only 2 states allow this: Oregon and Vermont. For every
   U.S. state that has a MAiD law you must be diagnosed with a terminal
   illness with 6 month or less to live ( two doctors must certify), be
   mentally competent, and be 18 years or older.
   -Final Exit Network (FEN). FEN will provide free, in-person education
   on achieving a peaceful death for those who qualify. A terminal
   condition is not required, but intolerable medical circumstances are
   required.
   One must be mentally competent, submit their medical records and be
   approved by FEN before the education can take place. Additionally,
   you must be capable of obtaining and assembling equipment on your own
   (Suicide is not a crime, but assisting a suicide is a crime in most
   states). FEN cannot help with any physical acts; only with education.
   -Swiss Clinic. There are several Swiss clinics – Pegasos, Dignitas
   that accept foreigners. It will cost somewhere around $10,000. You
   must apply and submit your medical records. They do accept dementia
   patients in the early stages. You must answer questions to determine
   you are aware of what you are doing and the consequences.

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