On Wednesday of last week, 29-year-old terminal cancer patient Brittany Maynard released a video sharing that she might wait beyond November 1 to exercise her right to death with dignity. This evening, People reported that yesterday, Brittany ended her life.
After Brittany was diagnosed with the deadliest form of brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), earlier this year, she and her family moved to Oregon, where Brittany could receive the lethal medication she'd need to end her life should her cancer symptoms become unbearable. Oregon is one of only five states where terminal patients can access this medication. Brittany devoted her final months to her family, friends, and fighting for the universal right to death with dignity in partnership with the organization Compassion & Choices.
AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT
She'd tentatively selected November 1 as the date of her passing, but in last week's video, she explained that it didn't seem like the right time. "So, if November 2 comes along and I've passed, I hope my family is still proud of me and the choices I've made," she said through tears, "and if November 2 comes along and I'm still alive, I know that we'll just still be moving forward as a family out of love for each other and that this decision will come later."
Now, it appears that her decision did come this weekend. People reports that before passing, Brittany typed a Facebook message of farewell: "Goodbye to all my dear friends and family that I love. Today is the day I have chosen to pass away with dignity in the face of my terminal illness, this terrible brain cancer that has taken so much from me … but would have taken so much more," she wrote. "The world is a beautiful place, travel has been my greatest teacher, my close friends and folks are the greatest givers. I even have a ring of support around my bed as I type … Goodbye world. Spread good energy. Pay it forward!" (People)