Staff Writer
There
has been a large amount of controversy over Brittany Maynard, a 29 year old
victim of terminal brain cancer residing in Portland, Oregon, choosing to die
at the end of the month. Her medically assisted suicide is planned to take
place on Saturday, November 1. Many oppose the practice of euthanasia, but on
the subject, Maynard says that it is her choice and her right to die with
dignity. Maynard is working to have medically assisted suicide legalized in
other states, where it is currently against the law. Many organizations, such
as the Death with Dignity National Center and the Euthanasia Research and
Guidance Organization, promote taking advantage of this option if one is
suffering from a physical disability that is just too much or if one has a
terminal illness. To be eligible for assisted suicide in the United States, one
must have two different physician requests stating the patient will be passing
away in under six months, be at least 18 years old, and be a resident of that
state. Also, one cannot have a mental disorder; he or she must be a competent
adult. “The law does provide safeguards against clinically depressed or
mentally incompetent patients getting lethal drugs to end their lives. Four
other states have enacted similar laws,” says CNN writer Sandeep Jauhar.
Oregon,
where Maynard has moved to pass away, enacted the Death with Dignity Act in
1997. More than 1,100 people have been given secobarbital or pentobarbital and
750 people have chosen to take it. Montana, New Mexico, Vermont and Washington
are the other states that have legalized euthanasia.
Recently,
another terminal cancer patient has reached out to Maynard, begging her to
choose life over an assisted death. Even with the support of families, such as
the British couple who passed away in Zurich or the couple from Brussels who
chose to pass away together in fear of what lies ahead, there is still the
question of what are they leaving behind? Should assisted suicides be permitted
or should families and friends promote trying to live?
Many
people who argue against assisted suicide bring up religion and the power that
doctors and other healthcare professionals have. The financial pressure and the
worries of being a nuisance may plague the ill as they become more dependent.
Also, where is the line drawn on the topic; can the death of the individual be
chosen by another? Is it moral or ethical to become an accomplice in someone’s
death? Is helping someone to die, even while they are in pain, humane? In the end, it
is the choice of the person suffering. Whether one wants to go through
treatment or to end one’s life is that person’s decision. But I would hope that
person would choose to hang on, to try and to utilize the advanced technology
and medicine we have available today to their advantage, to prolong their life.
Yet, if he or she is making this decision, may it be truly for themselves, not
out of guilt for others.
Given
Maynard’s circumstances, that she will continue to rapidly deteriorate and no
longer be herself, I can understand her decision. On CNN.com Maynard wrote,
“I've had the medication for weeks. I am not suicidal. If I were, I would have
consumed that medication long ago. I do not want to die. But I am dying. And I
want to die on my own terms. Having this choice at the end of my life has
become incredibly important. It has given me a sense of peace during a
tumultuous time that otherwise would be dominated by fear, uncertainty and
pain."
Although,
I would hope that even with this morbid option at her disposal she would still
attempt to continue to live, especially considering how young she is. Just
postponing her assisted death a while longer will allow her to find closure and
to create more memories. If one is older, the decision to end his or her life
would make more sense to me, but choosing to go into hospice care even more so.
Especially, if one is younger or has a family to support then I would plead
with them to reconsider immediately following the route of assisted suicide. I
would hope that they would choose to fight another day.
