A 29-year old woman has chosen to end her life
 

Brittany Maynard, 29, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and had chosen to end her life on November 1st. Yesterday, a video was released chronicling her struggle with the illness, her feelings about her own death, and her intention to choose to end her life "at the right time".

Today was that day.

Read about Brittany's battle here.

What are your feelings on the Death With Dignity act (which allows people facing terminal illness to end their life without pain and suffering, with the assistance of a medical professional)?

I really don't know. I'd have to think about it for a long time. I guess my beef is that the money and time used to euthanize these people could be put toward people who have a chance at pulling through. But I can see both sides of the question. I mean, we do it for dogs.

I think most people would agree with the second option if they had all experienced a loved one going through something so terrible. Watching someone dear to you suffer is truly horrendous. Hell, or just watch Amour.

I don't know a lot about human euthanization but I assume potassium chloride is not a difficult chemical to get a hold of in the medical field. I don't think the procedure is difficult (in terms of how much time/manpower it takes to accomplish) or expensive compared to the extended care of terminal patients.

If it's the compassionate choice for terminally ill animals, I would expect it's just as compassionate for people.


Someone very close to me had a grandparent with an excruciating illness that (I think?) chose Death With Dignity. I met her shortly before she passed away and the image of her face, the chill of her hands, the whisper in her breath when she told me I had "beautiful hair" will never leave me. Never. The next time I saw her, she was in a casket and her husband (of 60-some years) had no idea she'd passed. (He has alzheimer's - he kept asking where she was and when she'd be back.) She suffered down to the last second of her life, and passed peacefully with loved ones at her side.

It's an awful decision to have to make. I can't condemn her or anyone who chooses that route. Hopefully, it's a decision I'll never have to make.

Same. I'm eternally grateful that I live in a state where the Death With Dignity act is a thing, and it's available to those with a terminal illness facing less than 8 months to live.

I support this. Your life your decision.

my dad died of cancer. before he even went to hospice he said to me "i'm ready to die" kinda guilty and i said "i don't blame you." at that point his life basically revolved around his illness and there was really no point to it. we understood each other and i would have killed him if it was legal but unfortunately he had to sweat it out. tbh this is one of those issues where i get confused why there's even another side.

I'm sorry for your loss. :( It breaks my heart that your state/province/locale doesn't have this law/didn't have it at the time of your father's passing. I'm sorry you had to watch the process of death in someone you love so much.

I thought I read that she had postponed it?

Me too JWB. He fought lung cancer for about 5 months with a positive attitude until one day he looked at me and said "I don't think I'm gonna make it through the summer". I would have put him out of his misery if he wanted to end it that way(if it was legal). He had kind of accepted his fate at that point and just tried to enjoy the things he could.

Yes, but today she had decided to follow through with it.

I was so surprised (as I'd mentioned), having seen the video of her postponement only yesterday.

She is no longer with us now.

Ah, I didn't realize. Well, I believe pretty strongly that it was her choice to end her life how and when she wanted. Very sad story though.

I'm also in favor of it being the persons choice. If they don't want to live anymore with a sickness, they shouldn't have to.

Me too. I think it's wonderful that the Death With Dignity act exists. I'm glad that she was able to take advantage of this and die peacefully rather than be a victim of seizures, or to experience the possibility of cancer spreading to vital organs and causing her extreme pain. It's so sad that this happened to her so young (only 4 years older than I am today).

:clap: this is why I love you.

We all know why there's another side. Same reason half of America believes in Creationism.

I hear you on how young she was. She was eight years younger than me. :(

"God's gonna be mad at you!" :rofl:

I believe the right to die should be as inalienable a human right as any.

That said, I do not envy the person in charge of regulating such a thing.

Well if he's so pissed then we need to talk it out. Hand me the cyanide, will ya?

RIP

So freaking sad.

For real. I'd be all like "dude, this sucks really bad, I'm sure you understand"

god's all like "nah, you know what I said"

I'm like "get with the times, God, shit."

Jesus in the background being like "oh snap, bitch!"

So young. So, so young.

I know this girl who got married at age 22ish. Her husband battled leukemia for 2 years (he was 24-26ish when he passed). He had his sperm frozen and now she has twins (boy and a girl). Typically I'm condescending about people in the developed world breeding, but she grew up in a family that loves children and genuinely loves people, so I'm rooting for her every day. She is such a kind, wonderful woman.

She had to watch him in his final stages of leukemia, as it spread throughout his entire body. She watched him die, helplessly. I hope that the Death With Dignity act is soon granted to her home state.

i also lived in a state that wouldn't prescribe marijuana. but fortunately i found a way around that somehow.

yea. i don't really get that either. it really does confuse me that people believe that kind of **** and yet can seem perfectly smart or competent doing everyday ****.

It's a no-brainer in my opinion. Dying with some dignity really does not seem like much to ask for. Terminal illnesses are mostly out of a persons control, but how and when that person dies doesn't have to be.

And then there's this.

I got something in my eyes....

Exactly.

I would've liked a 4th option in the poll that said "Live and let die" cause i think calling such a thing a blessing doesn't sound quite right to me.

Ive never lived or known anybody who was gone through this so idk what kind of personal reaction i would have to it but atm im pro-choice.

If I had, say, testicular cancer, I certainly wouldn't choose to suffer through several weeks of severe ball pain if I knew that there was no chance of survival.

if i had any kind of terminal cancer i would off myself long before it killed me. actually i think it would be kind of cool to jump off something really high and die that way. cooler than dieing of cancer anyway.

I'm pretty sure my prolonged disturbance in mental status has qualified as some kind of cancer by now and equally irritated that I can't just end myself peacefully.

nah i think cancer usually has something to do with uncontrolled cell division

hoping for a miracle here, I'm tired of myself.

quit whining

And wouldn't she have to go bald?

not if she rejects the chemo

Figuratively vs. Literally.

Follow up

California Governor Signs Hard-Won Right-to-Die Legislation | NBC 7 San Diego

Geez... This woman is my age... It's not really my place to judge whether or not its a good thing as ive never been in that position, but hopefully this will bring peace to families who need it.

Perhaps I'm overstepping my own experience here but... Seeing as how any healthy person can jump off a building at any time to end emotional pain, I see no reason why the helpless who are suffering have to be trapped here. I guess there's no such thing as "fair" in this situation :-/