Death doulas provide physical, emotional, spiritual, and logistical support to both the dying person and their loved ones before, during and after death. They’re often an integrated part of hospice teams, providing a vital role in alleviating what medicine alone cannot.
Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) is the practice of providing medicine to a terminally ill patient to end their life on their own terms. They must be within six months of their expected death in order to aid their autonomous choice and it must be deemed appropriate by a physician.
Palliative care is specialized medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness. That includes pain and other symptom management, but also family needs, coordination of care, and emotional support.
The depression, fear and anxiety that come with dying are treated with opiates, antidepressants, and palliative sedation. But the use of psychedelics, specifically in the form of psilocybin, may be the better solution to easing psychological distress.