Brittany Maynard, the 29-year-old woman who recently announced her plans to end her life with doctor-prescribed medication rather than let her terminal brain cancer kill her, fulfilled her last wish over the weekend in her home in Oregon.
A statement released yesterday by the death with dignity organization Compassion & Choices confirmed the news. "As symptoms grew more severe, she chose to abbreviate the dying process by taking the aid-in-dying medication she had received months ago,” read the statement. “This choice is authorized under the Oregon Death With Dignity Act. She died as she intended—peacefully in her bedroom, in the arms of her loved ones.”
After her diagnosis earlier this year, Brittany moved to Oregon from California to take advantage of the state law, which allows terminally ill patients to decide when they want to die via a lethal prescription drug combination obtained by a doctor.
In mid-October, Brittany released a video through Compassion & Choices explaining her situation and why she planned to die peacefully on November 1 rather than let her cancer kill her. In the last month, her story has gone viral as she stirred up the right-to-die debate and gave a face and heartbreaking story to the controversy.
Last week, Maynard released another video, explaining that she might not end her life on the predetermined date, though she still supported death with dignity and feared that her illness might progress enough to take away her autonomy. Last night, an obituary and final statement was posted on her website, saying she had died as she had wanted to.
“In this final message, she wanted to express a note of deep thanks to all her beautiful, smart, wonderful, supportive friends whom she ‘sought out like water’ during her life and illness for insight, support, and the shared experience of a beautiful life,” says the statement. They also included a quote from Brittany: "It is people who pause to appreciate life and give thanks who are happiest. If we change our thoughts, we change our world! Love and peace to you all."
Read more about her life and final thoughts on her website, which recaps her tragic diagnosis and decision to end her life with dignity. Though Brittany has passed away, the conversation she ignited will no doubt continue.
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