# Decision trajectories of patients at the end of life: An epidemiological exploration of MAID and the impact on caregivers and clinicians

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2022 · $732,428

## Abstract

Project Summary Abstract
Patient facing advanced serious illness have many complex decisions to make regarding their medical care.
The range of options spans the most aggressive life prolonging care to care that is focused mainly on comfort.
In 1997, the Death with Dignity Act was passed legalizing Medical Aid in Dying (MAiD) for the state of Oregon.
Since that time, 11 other states have passed MAiD laws and 12 others are considering similar legislation. Yet
despite the widespread access patients may have to this option, there is a paucity of research about patient’s
experiences with decision making around MAiD and how aging may affect these decisions. We also lack data
about the experiences and outcomes for caregivers, and the experiences of clinicians who are involved in the
care of patients pursuing MAiD. To address these critical gaps in our understanding, we propose to conduct a
longitudinal cohort study of patients who are pursuing MAiD from a national sample as well as their caregivers
and clinicians. Aim 1: To understand quantitative and qualitative outcomes of seriously ill older and younger
persons pursuing MAID and the patient-level factors that are associated with subsequently using MAiD. Aim 2:
To understand the quantitative and qualitative outcomes of caregivers of older and younger patients
pursuing MAiD. Aim 3: To qualitatively examine the attitudes and experiences of clinicians prescribing and
caring for patients considering MAiD.
This research is highly innovative because we will capture a national cohort of patients pre-MAiD as well as
their caregivers and follow them forward. We bring together a highly experienced and multi-disciplinary team of
investigators who have a demonstrated track record of collaboration and expertise across palliative care
research and bioethics. Without understanding the diverse perspectives of patients, caregivers, and clinicians,
we are unable to create or implement interventions to support these populations. Given the broad population
that has access to MAiD, epidemiologic, experiential, and decision-making characteristics of individuals
considering and pursuing MAiD may be critical to inform evidence-based policies and practices.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10539641
- **Project number:** 1R01AG079555-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** STACY M FISCHER
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $732,428
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10539641

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10539641, Decision trajectories of patients at the end of life: An epidemiological exploration of MAID and the impact on caregivers and clinicians (1R01AG079555-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10539641. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*