Characteristics and Motivations of People With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Who Pursue Medical Aid in Dying in California

Patients with ALS who requested MAID were largely White and English speaking. Most patients inquired about MAID when they had moderate-stage ALS and were early in their course of palliative care. Motivations for pursuing MAID often involved the accumulated losses characterizing ALS and worries about the future. Future studies should incorporate diverse patient voices, explore barriers to accessing MAID, and consider whether any interventions can ameliorate issues driving requests for MAID in people with ALS.