By Weston Irons Posted October 7, 2015
Suicide is a tough topic to discuss in every aspect. People tend to get very uneasy at the mere sight of the word. Everyone can agree that suicide is never the answer and people dealing with these thoughts should be helped by their peers. But what if a person is suffering heavily, mentally and physically, because of a terminal illness? And then they realize they do not have much time on this Earth and want to end their suffering and go peacefully? That raises the question of should assisted suicide be legal across these 50 states and should people in these types of situations have the right to control when they die.
Back in November of 2014, there was a story that received national attention about a Californian woman by the name of Brittany Maynard. Maynard was living the life and when she was 29 years old and just recently married, she discovered she had a very aggressive brain cancer. After several doctor consultations and multiple surgeries, it was disclosed to Maynard that she had an estimated six months to live. Maynard continued to research her illness but she only found that it was hopeless and any treatment that would have a chance at extending her life, would only cause her more suffering. Therefore Maynard decided to spend her remaining days with her family and loved ones doing all the things on her bucket list, and then, with the help of doctors, go peacefully before this cancer destroyed her mentally and physically.
Unfortunately for Maynard though, California did not have a Death with Dignity law which allows people with terminal illnesses to end their lives through voluntary self-administration of lethal medication prescribed by a doctor for that purpose. In fact, at the time, only four states in total had this opportunity to put an end to the suffering. So to solve this dilemma Maynard and her family moved to Oregon where this was permitted. Maynard got the death she wanted. With her family and loved ones around here, she passed away peacefully. Since Maynard’s death, the California Legislature approved the assisted suicide law giving terminal Californians like Maynard this choice to put an end to their suffering.
Life is truly a beautiful gift and should be cherished at every moment of any given day. But in situations like these, where terminal patients know there is no light at the end of the tunnel for them maybe they should have the choice to go peacefully. A short but good quality life will always be better than a painfully long life, full of suffering and agony.
