Terminally ill woman may postpone assisted suicide

By STEVEN DUBOIS ASSOCIATED PRESS

11 years ago

This undated file photo provided by the Maynard family shows Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old terminally ill woman who took her own life under Oregon’s death with dignity law. (AP Photo/Maynard Family)

In this Oct. 21, 2014 photo provided by TheBrittanyFund.org, Brittany Maynard, left, hugs her mother Debbie Ziegler next to a helicopter at the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. The 29-year-old terminally ill woman has fulfilled a wish on her bucket list: visiting the Grand Canyon. Maynard, who has advanced brain cancer, has said she plans use Oregon’s death-with-dignity law to end her own life Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014 though she could still change her mind. Maynard and her husband moved to Oregon from Northern California because Oregon allows terminally ill patients to end their lives with lethal medications prescribed by a doctor. (AP Photo/TheBrittanyFund.org)

In this Oct. 21, 2014 photo provided by TheBrittanyFund.org, Brittany Maynard and her husband Dan Diaz pose at the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. The 29-year-old terminally ill woman has fulfilled a wish on her bucket list: visiting the Grand Canyon. Maynard, who has advanced brain cancer, has said she plans use Oregon’s death-with-dignity law to end her own life Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014 though she could still change her mind. Maynard and her husband moved to Oregon from Northern California because Oregon allows terminally ill patients to end their lives with lethal medications prescribed by a doctor. (AP Photo/TheBrittanyFund.org)

PORTLAND, Ore. — A 29-year-old terminally ill woman who expects to take her life under Oregon’s assisted-suicide law has released a new video, saying she’s feeling better and might postpone the day she had planned to die.

Brittany Maynard said in early October that she expected to take her life Nov. 1 but might move the day forward or push it back depending on how she felt. While she hasn’t completely ruled Saturday out, Maynard says she feels she has some more of her life to live.

Maynard said she was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer earlier this year. Because her home state of California does not have an aid-in-dying law, she moved to Portland and has become an advocate for getting such laws passed in other states.

A nationwide media campaign featuring Maynard’s story has gone viral.