Death With Dignity Advocate Brittany Maynard Dies in Oregon

Brain cancer is horrible. I'm glad she was able to end her life on her own terms. I hope she has made it easier for others in her situation.

I wish my father had had this option.

RIP.

She went out on her own terms. So young...a terrible waste...but I totally respect her decision. RIP...

She is a hero, in my opinion.

I may have mentioned this a while ago, but I highly recommend the documentary "How to Die in Oregon" to anyone interested in this issue. It's about the state's Death with Dignity Act and has a number of interviews with people who later decided to make use of the law, giving a great deal of insight into why physician-assisted dying is so important to leave open to people as an option.

Michael Wolfe said:

She is a hero, in my opinion.

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In mine as well.

She said:

“For people to argue against this choice for sick people really seems evil to me,” she told People last month. “They try to mix it up with suicide and that’s really unfair, because there’s not a single part of me that wants to die. But I am dying.”

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It enrages me that there are so few options available to those who want the choice to do what Ms. Maynard did. On my worst days, I think that at least I can move from Massachusetts to Vermont, where there is a Death with Dignity law. On even my best days, I wish every person who has ever cast a vote or spoken against DwD (especially those saying truly horrific things about Ms. Maynard) had to spend a day in the body of someone fighting to die on their own terms. A great deal, though not all, of the opposition comes down to people imposing their religious or spiritual beliefs on others, imo.

Michael, thank you for the documentary recommendation. Will check it out.

Caleb Wilde, a Pennsylvania funeral director, has a great blog over at "Confessions of a Funeral Director," and he had a great post about how to define terms when talking about Maynard's death.

http://www.calebwilde.com/2014/11/before-you-talk-about-brittany-maynards-decision/

I hate that she had to move to be able to do this. I hate that people would deny her a quiet, peaceful passing. And speaking as the husband of an evangelical pastor, if this came up in Oklahoma, I'd do everything I could to help it pass.

My son, Ryland, died from the kind of tumor Brittany had. It was in 1982 and he was three years old. I watched him suffer and held him in my arms as he took his last breath. I can't imagine the kind of pain he had to go through -- and I honor Brittany for her choice. My thoughts are with her family and loved ones.

She was a very brave and dignified young woman. I wish her peace.

I came to Oregon to live my way; Ms. Maynard came to die her way. I'm sad she's done too soon and lifted by her spirit.

Her candor will make a difference, I suspect. I wish for her loved ones that she could have just had the regular impact of a life well-lived, but as it is, she will be remembered.

RIP, lovely person.

RIP

rugcat said:

Brittany Maynard, a young woman with terminal brain cancer took her life Saturday night and died peacefully with her husband and mother by her side.

A courageous young woman who faced a terrible situation with grace, dignity, and the courage of her convictions.

RIP

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...advocate-brittany-maynard-dies-oregon-n235091

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Quite agree!!