`` My Dream `` By Brittany Maynard

We are culturally ingrained from an early age that life is precious and each day is a gift. Life should not be squandered but preserved.  We are encouraged to live with a purpose, cherish our loved ones and live life to its fullest. But what if life becomes too physically painful to endure, often experienced by many terminally ill patients suffering an incurable disease, or a chronically ill elderly person who lacks the ability to thrive?  For forty-five day’s I watched my chronically ill mother languish away in a hospice care facility. The experience was emotionally and financially draining, and I began questioning whether a person should have the right to choose when and how to end their life. In the United States, assisted dying is a widely debated and passionate issue. Opponents argue preserving life, regardless of how much a person is suffering, is an ethical and moral responsibility, determined only by a higher power.  At the other end of the spectrum are those who support a person’s right to end their life with dignity at a time of their choosing.   Wouldn’t my mother’s suffering been greatly reduced if her doctor was legally and ethically permitted to administer a lethal cocktail of drugs to end her life quickly and painlessly? Wouldn’t the prevailing memory of my mother see her in a better light instead of helplessly watching her undignified death? To deny terminal and chronically ill people the freedom to end their

Death with Dignity is the use of medical practices to end the life of someone who is suffering from severe illness. It was reported on November 2, 2014, by People and various other media sources that Maynard had ended her life on November 1 surrounded by her loved ones. In accordance to Oregon state law regarding death with dignity, a brain tumor is recorded as the official cause of death on her death certificate.The problem with this is that many people believe that it should not be legal for one to chose whether or not they should die. Individuals throughout the U.S. and many other countries believe we should not have the choice of when we die, and that it should all come naturally. In addition to that, many people were conflicted between the idea of suicide and a person dying. The reason for this opposition is because it goes against many religions. For example, Christians believe that it is a denial of God’s power and presence. Even though there is much controversy about this topic, I believe that Brittany made the right choice. Although I do not think the ending of a life is vigorous, I think in certain situations it is justified. She decided to get this treatment in Oregon, where “ Death with Dignity” is legal. As a human being, she has the right to take this option since it is a law. On top of that, it is a right that was afforded to her. Furthermore, she was going through a pain that a normal human being couldn’t even imagine bearing. She was only given six months to live due to her terminal illness, and would only get worse over time. This was the right course of action because she died on her own terms, peacefully, legally, and around those that she loved. This issue (Death with Dignity - Euthanasia) has sparked all across the globe, making many others individually think, is Death with Dignity right or wrong. Is there a difference between someone

Brittany Maynard was a woman terminally ill with cancer and made a decision to end her life with dignity. Topics include her family views, her struggles with a cancerous tumor, mention of her plan to die, and the controversy surrounding her right to die. Maynard had great influence surrounding the right-to-die movement. This essay will also include the topic of state laws that have signed the bill for patients that are terminally ill that choose to end their lives. This article includes the views of those who perceive this right as assisted suicide.

Brittany Maynard was one of the people to use the Death with Dignity Act in Organ and once said,“To have control of my own mind…to go with dignity is less terrifying. When I look at both options I have to die, I feel this is far more humane” (Sandeen, 2014). No matter what, we will all eventually die, but we should have the right to die as humanely as possible. The Death with Dignity Act is an end-of-life choice possibility for terminally ill patients to be given the freedom to decide for themselves what it means to die with dignity. This act allows them to die with dignity by providing them with lethal medications prescribed by a physician (The Oregon Department of Human Services, 2006). The Death with Dignity Act started to allow people with six months or less to live, the right to die in a manner and at the time of their own choosing. Also, even though modern medicine has benefited humanity greatly, it cannot completely resolve the suffering and distress that comes with the dying process, so Death with Dignity can provide a painless end-of-life choice for suffering individuals (Humphry, 2009). Although Death with Dignity is a controversial topic I feel it can be very beneficial especially since people go through a long process just to try to get the medication and the ones that get it really need it. I chose this topic because death always has been interesting to me and I one day hope to have a career

Brittany Maynard, a woman known for her advocacy in the controversial topic of assisted suicide, officially ended her life this fall after learning of her fatal brain tumor. After complaining of horrible headaches, she decided to see a doctor where they gave her this traumatic news. She had two corrective surgeries to try and stop the growth of her large tumor, but they were unsuccessful. Her doctor then suggested full brain radiation, but after months of researching this option, along with many other, she knew her quality of what short life she had left would quickly deteriorate. With the help of her family, friends, and newly-wed husband, she made the decision to move with her loved ones from her California home to Oregon, where death with

The article “Brittany Maynard Death With Dignity Advocate for ‘Death With Dignity’ Dies” by Catherine E. Shoichet delivers the story of Brittany Maynard. She was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2012 and was told she had from 3-10 years to live. However, in another diagnose that she had she was told she only had about six months to live. Maynard graduated from Berkeley and obtained a Masters in Education from the University of Irvine. She was a California resident and could not obtain her wish of dying with assisted suicide here. She moved to Oregon and there she became a resident. In 2014 Brittany Maynard consumed the drugs and peacefully died at 29 years.

The article “Brittany Maynard Death With Dignity Advocate for ‘Death With Dignity’ Dies” by Catherine E. Shoichet delivers the story of Brittany Maynard. She was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2012 and was told she had from 3-10 years to live. However, in another diagnose that she had she was told she only had about six months to live. Maynard graduated from Berkeley and obtained a Masters in Education from the University of Irvine. She was a California resident and could not obtain her wish of dying with assisted suicide here. She moved to Oregon and there she became a resident. In 2014 Brittany Maynard consumed the drugs and peacefully died at 29 years.

Imagine suffering day to day with consistent hospital visits, numerous medications, and unbearable pain for the next six months of your life, then being told that dying peacefully is not a granted privilege. Then imagine not being able to die in a controlled and dignified process like you prefer to. How would that affect the way you feel about death and the rest of your life you have left? Millions of people suffering from terminal illnesses consider physician-assisted suicide, but their wishes are rejected due to state and government beliefs. In fact, only five states out of fifty have a law permitting citizens the right to participate in physician-assisted suicide. That leaves just only 10% of the United States entitling critically ill patients to die with nobility. However, many citizens are commencing to lean toward physician-assisted suicides once they ascertain they hold a terminal illness.

Matthew Paris explains in his article “Soon We Will Accept That Useless Lives Should End,” published in the Spectator, that dying is not a desire for the patients with a terminal illness. Terminally ill patients end their life because they did not receive pleasure from the life that they had. Pleasure was taken away in their lives when the pain and suffering took over. Patients who are labeled with a terminal illness lose their quality of life quick. There are many cases in which patients would much rather choose an assisted death over living in pain. In Brittany Maynard’s article, she describes the suffering that she endured in her battle with brain cancer. Even though Brittany’s cancer was labeled terminal, she still had many surgeries. When given her prognosis of six months, she knew her quality of life would rapidly diminish. She went through with physician assisted suicide for many reasons, one of them being that she did not want to suffer anymore. The same article displays a perfect reasoning as to how physician assisted suicide ends suffering for the patient. Brittany Maynard chose physician assisted suicide to escape the pain and suffering that she would soon face. Having full brain radiation would leave her scalp with first-degree burns. Even if Brittany chose hospice care, the tumor developing in her brain would eat away at her mind and she

Brittany Maynard was given six months to live after being diagnosed with the deadliest form of brain cancer; she had recently just turned 29. To make matters worse, doctors had told her she would suffer from the tumor in a slow and painful manner before succumbing to death. Maynard decided she would die on November 1, a few days after her husband’s birthday under physician-assisted suicide. Unfortunately, she had to relocate from California, where her friends and family lived, to Oregon in order to fall under the “Die With Dignity” act. According to euthanasia.procon.org, only four states in the whole country have legalized assisted suicide. Unfortunately, there are many like Maynard, who have to relocate and leave their home or go through a long and strenuous court battle to receive this treatment plant. This is due to the disapproval of physician-assisted suicide.

“Having this choice at the end of my life has become incredibly important. It has given me a sense of peace during a [time] that otherwise would be dominated by fear, uncertainty, and pain” ("11 Emotional Quotes ). This quote was stated by Brittany Maynard, a twenty-nine year old who chose to end her own life. She had terminal brain cancer and chose to move to Oregon which, at the time, was one of the only states that offered the Death With Dignity Act. In a 2014 TIME article, it was stated that, “Maynard is one of more than 750 people in Oregon who have ingested a lethal dose of prescription medication since the Death with Dignity Act went into effect in 1997” (Barone). Every citizen should have the right to physician assisted death under circumstances of terminal illness and unbearable pain. (ADD THREE MAIN IDEAS AT THE END OF THIS PARAGRAPH)

Today, six states in the Unites States have legalized physician assisted suicide. Even though the Court concluded that there is no constitutional right to die in June of 1977, judges did not forbid states from passing laws that could enact a constitutional right to die (Lachman 1). Cases, such as the Brittany Maynard case, have led to the legalization of physician assisted suicide in some states. Brittany Maynard was diagnosed with a rapidly growing brain tumor. At that time California had not legalized physician assisted suicide, so she moved to Oregon to take the physician described medication. Maynard was applauded for her courage and sensibility. This case lead to the belief that every terminally ill patient’s death is agonizing. In addition,

Brittany Maynard brought up a good argument when she said, “I would not tell anyone else that he or she should choose death with dignity. My question is: Who has the right to tell me that I don’t deserve this choice?” (Slotnik). Brittany Maynard was a young woman who found out she had a terminal brain cancer and ended up becoming the public face for the right to die act. Many people believe that this act should not be in place, but in taking this act away people lose their right to choose when they want to die. People may argue the fact that doctors have access the drug with assisted suicide is very unsettling; however, the doctors are professionals who are trusted with this drug. This act is important because it gives the terminally ill one last independent decision before they lose themselves. Taking away the act means taking their free will away from them.

Imagine your beloved grandmother has been involved in a car accident. The crash was messy and despite medical advances and cutting edge technology, your grandma is in incredible pain, she will never be able to fully function or move by herself, and she will never be able to live a normal life ever again. What would you do? When a loved one is in such pain, would you not want to give them the option of passing peacefully, to stop the pain they have been suffering for so long? Unfortunately, in the United States, and throughout the world, there are few places where euthanasia and assisted suicide are legal. Even then, the practice is generally only partially permitted and a majority of patients in cases where euthanasia should be an option, cannot travel to another state or country due to their condition. “The vast majority of families [of terminal patients] do not have the flexibility, resources and time to make all [necessary] changes” such as obtaining new driver licenses, finding new doctors and house, etc. (Maynard 2014). *Euthanasia and assisted suicide must be legalized as an option for those patients who want to end their suffering, for those who have no other alternatives or cures, for the people who would never have a life and for those people whose death is imminent. It is for these people, that the population needs to become more aware of the issue through education and sign the petition to give these terminally ill or injured

     Once having a mere glimpse into the lives of the terminally ill or disabled, some are able to understand their plight; but usually most are not. In most cases, these people are able to take what they've been given and deal with it. However, in some cases, some simply can not tolerate their lives as they are. They feel that the only solution to their problem is to end their lives. Unfortunately, in some cases, the terminally ill or disabled are not capable of accomplishing this task by themselves, and are left trapped in a life that they do not want. In these cases, when one wishes to end his life and is terminally ill, disabled, or otherwise unable to do so independently, he should have the right to die by assisted suicide. Although most people that are terminally ill or disabled do not wish to end their lives, there are still those few who do. While examining the issue of assisted suicide, three facets of the controversy must be considered: the political, the moral, and the human or compassionate views. By supporting their decision, we support their right to choose and decide what they want to do with their bodies and their lives, we do not