Legislation to allow terminally ill patients the option for death with dignity has been introduced in Maryland and should be passed. The law would allow physicians to prescribe medication for a patient to end their life if they choose. The law contains safeguards, including sign-off by a second doctor, and is modeled on Oregon law, used by Brittany Maynard who suffered from an incurable brain cancer.
Why is this important?
As someone with an incurable cancer I am grateful for my great doctors and new drugs that are working for me now. However, I know that at some point these drugs will stop working. When I feel that there is little time to live and the disease is causing substantial suffering, I'd like to have the option for a planned death, and I'd like the same option available to others. This has worked well in Oregon without significant problems.
