The decision of Brittany Maynard to end her life on Saturday night due to a terminal illness called glioblastoma, a kind of brain cancer, is now starting to draw raves online. On one hand, the spark is on the rightness or wrongness of suicide coined beautifully in phrases such as 'right-to-die' and 'death with dignity'. On the other hand, the rightness or wrongness of reporting it in almost all stages, from the time Britanny Maynard was alive and heaving her last smiles to the time she finally succumbed to neverland. For some, it is like glamorizing suicide that others with no valid reason to do so may follow suit.
Just before she chose to die, Brittany Maynard sent this post in Facebook for all her loved ones and growing fans to see:
"Goodbye to all my dear friends and family that I love. Today is the day I have chosen to pass away with dignity in the face of my terminal illness, this terrible brain cancer that has taken so much from me ... but would have taken so much more. ..The world is a beautiful place, travel has been my greatest teacher, my close friends and folks are the greatest givers. I even have a ring of support around my bed as I type ... Goodbye world. Spread good energy. Pay it forward!"
Brittany Maynard opted for the 'right-to-die' scheme when her doctors told her she only had six months to live after the diagnosis last spring. She moved to Oregon state, with its Death With Dignity Act for the doctor-assisted suicide. "My glioblastoma is going to kill me and that's out of my control... I've discussed with many experts how I would die from it and it's a terrible, terrible way to die. So being able to choose to go with dignity is less terrifying," she said in an interview with People.com.
People.com kept people informed about the Brittany Maynard story, the disease, and now, her suicide death.
Now, the Brittany Maynard example of a sick person opting how and when to die is beginning to initiate debates on whether this should be encouraged. Many believe the responsibility is on media who has a big role with its power of disseminating news and information.
One online comment sensibly made the point clear: It said:
"I get that this woman didn't have kids, but if this in ANY way influences people WITH children to make the same choice, then this is a very bad thing... This is suicide and it should not be glorified. It's as simple as that. The media has a longstanding rule that they do not report on suicides so as not to glorify it. But they did it here. You think "oh but she had a terminal illness, this is different." Uh, no it's not. People who attempt suicide, or even consider it, are not in a good place. They are not rational. This should NOT be promoted."
"If this woman wants to kill herself, fine. I think it's disgraceful that it was reported on and that we are even having a conversation about it right now.."
Naturally, there are many who laud Brittany Maynard for resorting to it.
