Young Woman Chooses the Day She’ll Die

Imagine you are 29, recently married and plan to start a family with your new husband. Now imagine that your entire future has been ripped to shreds with news of a fatal disease which will kill you in less than a year.

Brittany Maynard found out that she had an aggressive brain cancer back in April. After being told that it was inoperable and she only had six months left to live, she made a shocking choice to end her life before her quality of life diminished rapidly. She plans to take a pill that will let her pass peacefully and without suffering on November 1st.

She and her husband moved from their home in California to Oregon, because the state allows terminally ill patients to end their lives on their own terms. She does not consider this decision to be suicide. She simply does not wish for her family to witness her suffering and remember her that way. There is no cure for her disease, and she sees this as the best option. November 1st is two days after her husband's birthday.

The Death With Dignity Act is now being proposed for Massachusetts. How do you feel about it? Would you consider ending your life under your own terms? Would you allow a family member to end his or her suffering in this way? Is there a way to leave room for miracles?