In October 2014, Brittany Maynard announced that she is going to end her own life on November 1, and many people are supportive of her decision. Brittany is suffering from a brain tumor which will eventually kill her and is causing severe headaches in the meantime. Brittany is 29 years old and doctors diagnosed her cancer two weeks after her wedding with stage IV glioblastoma multiforme – an aggressive form of brain cancer. Brittany has decided that she wants to be in control of when she passes.
Brittany and her husband moved from San Francisco to Oregon to take advantage of Oregon’s Death with Dignity Act. This law, passed in 1997, gives individuals diagnosed with terminal conditions the ability to legally inject themselves with doctor prescribed drugs for the purpose of ending their own lives. The individual must be a mentally competent adult, a resident of Oregon, and suffering from a terminal condition.
This practice has several different names – passive euthanasia, assisted suicide, aid in dying, or dying with dignity – and is gaining attention and momentum around the country. Passive euthanasia has traditionally been considered immoral, but some states have passed statutes allowing it, and more appear to be heading in that direction.
Most states do have a statute banning passive euthanasia and the United States Supreme Court heard a case on the subject where supporters argued that each individual has the fundamental right to choose death and should be able to seek medical assistance to euthanize themselves. The Supreme Court didn’t buy the argument that death is a fundamental right subject to equal protection under the law, but they did make it clear that the states have the ability to choose and set their own laws.
Texas does not allow the practice – the states that do allow it are Oregon, Washington, and Montana (by court decision). Becoming a resident of these states is a requirement before you can seek this action.
What do you think? Is it immoral for an individual with a terminal condition to end their own life with the assistance of doctors? Let us know on our Facebook page!