The Minnesota Gerontological Society (MGS) is hosting a two-part online webinar series in June and July to provide information on the issues raised by the “End-of-Life Option Act” that was considered in the recent (2025-2026) Minnesota Legislative Session. The Act was intended to establish an end-of-life option for terminally ill adults with a prognosis of six months or less.
Medical Aid in Dying: A Minnesota Option? (Part 1)
About 2/3 of Minnesotans support Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) and it elicits strong opinions. Participants will increase their knowledge of MAID and sharpen their own perspective on its legalization. The presentation describes the process, criteria and safeguards of MAID in the US, positions for and against the practice, the status of the Minnesota End of Life Option Act and its importance for human service professionals.
1.0 Free CEU credit is available after the presentation
Learning Objectives:
Gain accurate, current information about the medical practice of medical aid in dying (MAID) in the US
Enhance understanding of the proposed legislation in Minnesota
Clarify one’s own responses to families and clients who raise questions about medical aid in dying at the end of life or as a policy issue
PRESENTERS
Mary Carlson
Mary received her B.A. in social work from St. Olaf College and her MSW from the University of Washington, with specializations in health care and aging. She worked as a health care social worker in hospitals, hospices, nursing homes, and home care settings.
Mary recently retired from a 34-year career as a faculty member in the Department of Social Work and Family Studies, where she taught courses in social policy, social work practice, ethics, family studies, death and dying, and social welfare history. She helped to found an HIV clinic, completed a fellowship with the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, was a visiting scholar at the University of East London in England, and was a Fulbright teacher in Norway.
She is a member of the Northfield Hospital Bioethics Committee and served on the NASW-MN Ethics Committee. Her areas of research included international social work and end-of-life care; in 2016, she founded End of Life Choices Collective in Northfield.
TheAge-Friendly Care and Education Collection is a curated online library of educational, clinical, and research resources for educators, health professionals, learners, and others interested in improving care for older adults. This fully searchable collection includes citations and links to resources including geriatric competencies, clinical guidelines, education toolkits / modules, case studies, clinical tools, preceptor materials, patient and caregiver education materials, journal articles, videos, and more. Contributionsof Age-Friendly resources are welcomed at this website!
Minnesota Gerontological Society (MGS) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. 15195 Boulder Ct. #40 Rosemount, MN 55068
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email us at info@mngero.org or 612-708-1982
