Brittany Maynard’s Story: Dying with Dignity Laws

Brittany Maynard was a well-educated, caring, and compassionate young woman. Her path in life changed dramatically when she was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Her life mission was then to educate others about Death With Dignity laws.

Why Did Brittany Chose to Die with Dignity?
On January 1, 2014, at the age of 29, Brittany Maynard was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and had 6 months to live. Her treatment plan included radiation therapy that would leave her with first-degree burns. But since Brittany wanted to enjoy the remainder of her life, she chose to die on her own terms. Thus, she moved from California to Oregon to take an advantage of their legal system.

Brittany then consulted physicians to obtain a physician-assisted death. She was prescribed a lethal dose of medicine, which she used to pass away in the comfort of her own home. If it were not for the Death With Dignity law, Brittany would have endured more suffering and would have painfully lost her memory and physical abilities.

Which States Have Death with Dignity Laws?
The concept of Death With Dignity arose around 1993 in Portland, Oregon. After many legal challenges, the law finally became effective on October 27, 1997. Since then, four other states have followed Oregon’s liberal law. Currently, terminally ill residents of Oregon, Washington, Vermont, New Mexico, and Montana may obtain physician-assisted suicides.

What Is the Criteria for Dying with Dignity?
In addition to residing in one of one of the above-mentioned states, you must be at least 18 years of age, mentally competent to make your own health care decisions, and be diagnosed with a terminal illness with 6 months to live. After that, there will be doctor consultations and a wait period before the doctor will prescribe you the lethal medicine.

With that said, Brittany’s message is that suicide is not the answer to all of our lives’ problems. But instead, to embrace every living moment of it, and to live life to its fullest.