In Canada, Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) was legalized after the Supreme Court found that forbidding people from seeking such assistance infringed on Canadian’s right to liberty and security of the person. The government was given a year to develop legislation, and in early June 2017, Stefanie Green, previously a maternity doctor, made her first consultation for MAiD, absent any resources, guiding documents, or federal legislation, and with only limited training abroad to inform this new branch of medical services. 

This is where the book starts, and from there, we come with Dr. Green on multiple visits as she breaks the trail for doctors providing medical assistance in dying across the country. It isn’t exclusively a memoir, but also an informative glance at the many issues and challenges that were faced by doctors providing MAiD in the early days, and even today. We see her meet with patients who did not meet the requirements for assisted dying, and, even more heartbreaking, patients where it was unclear if they did. We see patients who had every detail of their death planned, and others who were unable to proceed as hoped. Through them all, Stefanie learns and reflects on what makes a good life and a good death, and what is most important to her.

In addition to the anecdotes of her first year and a bit of providing MAiD, she also provides details about the history in Canada, the United States, and abroad, the social responses, and how the service intersects with hospice care. I was fascinated to learn that as Canada legalized maid through a rights-based challenge, it has a much different foundation than other countries, where the service was legalized by advocacy from doctors, or public petitions. 

I really loved this novel. It was educational, interesting, but also very emotional. Obviously its a niche topic, but if the subject matter appeals, I’d definitely recommend it. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author, and it is very well done.