By Andrew Rock

Brittany Maynard, the 29-year-old woman whose recent battle with terminal brain cancer made her the new face of the right-to-die movement, ended her own life on Sunday night. She declared via Facebook, “Goodbye to all my dear friends and family that I love.”

Maynard continued, “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!”

Maynard was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer earlier this year; doctors informed her that she had six months to live. In a public announcement, she declared her intention to move to Oregon, a state that offers patients greater end-of-life treatment options under its Death With Dignity Act. Her situation has called attention to the issue of physician-assisted suicide, for which she was a strong advocate. In doing so, she faced an onslaught of criticism from many people and groups who believe that such choices are evil: “They try to mix it up with suicide and that’s really unfair, because there’s not a single part of me that wants to die. But I am dying.”

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