CNN.com interviewed the 29 year old about her condition, and realized she was very set on what was going to happen. Brittany talked about not even a year after she got married, in 2013, she was diagnosed in January and it came back more aggressively in April. Eventually there was a point where the doctors told her there was nothing else they could do, and gave her 6 months to live. It was here that Brittany started to do her research, on any other options. She stumbled upon Death with Dignity, which is a end of life option for terminally and mentally ill people that take prescription, self-ingest medication to end their life. She realized that this would be the best option for her, not wanting to suffer and make others watch. She says she does not plan to use it right away, but plans to November 1, two days after her husbands birthday.
I actually found this article trying to do my science journal, on ajc.com, last week and was completely shocked. I didn't even know what Death with Dignity was, or that people could do that. My first reaction was along the lines of 'that's so depressing for her to know when she's going to die, and for her to do it'. I wasn't thinking it was wrong or anything, just I thought it was really, really sad- and it is. But the more I read the more it made sense, she gets the option to painlessly end her life before the suffering begins.
I support Death with Dignity because it's helping people live out the rest of their life and then be able to end it whenever the pain becomes too unbearable. It's not fair for these people, who have already been through so much, to suffer and suffer until they die. It's not fair. Sure, people can choose to live it out, but they should also get to choose if they want it to end. It is always a choice.
I read though some of the comments on this article and some were supportive, but some were not. There were many people telling her how she's going to go to hell because she's committing suicide and throwing away the precious life that God gave her. I hate when stupid people say stuff like this. Brittany is a newly wed 29 year old with a lust for life, maybe if she didn't have terminal cancer she would live, but she does. Death with Dignity is not suicide, it is for people who will suffer until they die. A simpler way out is nicer than potentially becoming immobile or not being able to communicate. If you do not like it, then don't do it. Just don't choose other people's battles.
It baffles, yes, baffles, me that this option is only available in 5 states.
Crawford, Melony. “Terminally ill woman, 29, chooses to die two days after husband's
birthday.”Atlanta Journal Constitution: Cox Media Group. 7 Oct. 2014. Web. 19
Oct. 2014.
As I first began to read this I thought,"Even if I am dying, I wouldn't end my own life..." As I continued to read, I tried to put my self in her shoes. I totally agree with you: Her having to deal with this is not fair. We live our lives everyday without ever having to go through such dilemmas like this. As for the people who commented, I can see both sides of the arguments, but it's not their choice, it's not their life.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I could even come to terms with killing myself, but seeing my family and friends suffer with me would be extremely difficult to go through.
What ever decision she makes, I can understand why. Nobody should have to suffer.