Brittany’s Story
Brittany Maynard, was a terminally ill 29-year-old Californian who spent her final days advocating for death-with-dignity laws.
Maynard’s journey began on New Year’s Day 2015 when she was diagnosed with brain cancer. By April, she was told she had six months to live. She looked at treatment options — and side effects. She considered hospice care. Then she made her decision: doctor-assisted death.
Lecretia’s Story
Lecretia Seales was a lawyer based in Wellington, New Zealand. She was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2011.
In January 2015, Lecretia’s health entered a decline despite her treatments and she came to the end of her options for treating the cancer effectively.
Lecretia believed there should be a gentler, more compassionate way.
Noel’s Story
Noel Conway, who has motor neurone disease, is bringing a judicial review (in the UK) which could result in a change to the law on assisted dying to allow terminally ill adults who meet strict criteria to make their own decisions about ending their lives.
He said: “If I let nature take its course, I could effectively become entombed in my own body as my ability to move and communicate continues to diminish, or I may die by suffocation or choking.”