Junior English major
A couple of weeks ago, the Internet and various media outlets blew up because of Brittany Maynard, a terminally ill 29-year-old who decided to end her life on her own terms. Maynard was diagnosed with an aggressive form of stage IV brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme and given a mere six months to live. After a brief bout of doubt early last week, Maynard went through with her decision and passed away Nov. 1 by means of drugs prescribed to her legally in Oregon — one of only five states that have Death with Dignity-type legislation.
Maynard’s YouTube video explaining why she wanted to end her life went viral, bringing out advocates for Death with Dignity and assisted suicide, as well as others who staunchly oppose it.
In the wake of the gubernatorial election, the issue of assisted suicide might not have been on the list of our priorities, but it is something to think about.
Maynard’s decision to end her life might appear to affect our lives as university students only for a short time, but her decision to die on her own terms brought up the much-needed conversation about assisted suicide. Currently, this state does not have any type of Death with Dignity legislation, but it ought to.
I went to Catholic school for 13 years, and in my mandatory religion class each year, I was taught time and time again that suicide is a mortal sin on the same level of murder. However, I left my Catholic views behind once I graduated from my high school. And now, having had someone in my family who is terminally ill, I firmly believe that a person has the same right to end his or her life as to keep it. The decision to end your life when your death is imminent and will most likely be painful and horrific is a dignified way to triumph over your sickness and meet death on your own terms, not through your body’s weaknesses.
Initially, Maynard did not live in a state with assisted suicide or death legislation. She and her family lived in California, but moved to Oregon, where Maynard could be legally prescribed drugs that would kill her. Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont and New Mexico are the only states in the country that have legal avenues for individuals who wish to end their lives via assisted suicide.
Opponents of assisted suicide cite possible flaws using the idea that individuals diagnosed with severe depression might wrongly seek out assisted suicide, or that it is irresponsible for an individual to end his or her life because other people might be dependent on him or her — a child or other relative, for example.
However, the required checklist for Oregon — the state in which Maynard ended her life — is rather extensive and clearly states that an individual has to be terminally ill and be diagnosed with only six months to live. Maynard met both of those conditions.
I do not believe that a person who is not terminally ill or who has a great quality of life should seek out assisted suicide. But I do believe that if an individual will otherwise face an incredibly bleak end, then he or she should be able to decide to forgo the painful road to an even more painful death. Maynard died on her own terms, and I believe that individuals like her should be able to do the same. Just as our lives should be dignified, so should our deaths.
Maggie Cassidy is a junior English major and opinion editor. She can be reached at mcassidydbk@gmail.com.
