Two years ago Brittany Maynard, moved to Oregon so she could “die with dignity.” She had an aggressive brain tumor and was in extreme pain, and her story became international news and landed her on the cover of People magazine. In Colorado, some observers who had loved ones experiencing similar pain thought it deeply unfair that Maynard was able to lawfully end her torment while their family members continued to suffer.
These “right to die” advocates are now pushing a ballot measure that would institute a similar statute in Colorado. This coming November, voters will be able to decide whether patients in extreme pain will be able to elect to end their own lives,reports The Denver Post.That is, assuming the effort garners the requisite number of signatures. But that shouldn’t be an issue; the campaign already has more than $5 million in funding and has purchased nearly $3 million worth of campaign ads.
However, opposition to the cause is strongly committed. Catholic leaders have insisted that life is sacred from conception until death. And Coloradans with disabilities argue the measure would target them. They point out that dying costs less than lifelong medical care.