# Medical Aid in Dying: A Narrative Review of the Recent Academic Literature in the United States

## TL;DR

This paper reviews recent academic discussions on medical aid in dying in the U.S., showing how opinions vary by discipline and influence public attitudes and policy.

## Contribution

The paper provides a narrative analysis of U.S. academic literature on MAiD from 2020 to 2024, highlighting disciplinary and temporal trends in support or opposition.

## Key findings

- Most recent publications support or remain neutral toward MAiD, with opposition increasing slightly after 2022.
- Legal journals are more supportive, while religious journals are more opposed to MAiD.
- Supportive arguments focus on autonomy and suffering relief, while opposing arguments highlight risks to vulnerable groups.

## Abstract

Medical aid in dying (MAiD) is a practice in which a healthcare professional provides assistance to a terminally ill patient seeking to end their life. To assess how academic discourse may shape public opinion and policy in the United States, we conducted a narrative review of the literature published between 2020 and 2024. Articles were categorized as supportive, opposing, or neutral, and patterns were examined across authorship, disciplinary focus, and target populations. Our findings reveal that most recent publications adopt supportive or neutral stances toward MAiD, with a slight increase in opposition beginning in 2022. Authorship discipline strongly influenced position, with legal journals disproportionately supportive and religious journals more frequently opposed. Arguments favoring MAiD emphasized autonomy and relief of suffering, whereas opposing articles highlighted risks to vulnerable populations and potential harm. Academic literature contributes significantly to shaping the national conversation around MAiD and may influence evolving societal attitudes and policy development regarding end-of-life options.