Zee Media Bureau
Washington: Brittany Maynard, a 29-year-old American woman, has ended her own life at her home in Portland.
The young woman was suffering from a terminal brain cancer and made headlines around the world earlier this month when she announced she intended to die - under Oregon's Death with Dignity Act - by taking a fatal dose of barbiturates, prescribed to her by a doctor.
Even the video of her suicide threat went viral and was seen by millions of web users.
"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," she wrote in a message circulated widely on social media.
"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!"
In January, doctors have told Maynard that she has six months to live after she was diagnosed with a likely stage 4 glioblastoma. She was also told that her death would be painful because of the aggressive nature of her cancer.
Maynard and her husband Dan Diaz ,who had just married, had been trying their first baby when she found out about the disease, but gave up due to her illness.
A doctor could therefore prescribe her the medication she needs to end her own life, surrounded by her family in the bedroom she shares with her husband.
On Thursday, a new video was released by her in which she said she might temporarily delay her appointment with a self-administered cocktail of potentially deadly drugs. But the delay was a short one.
Maynard has in recent weeks and months been working to tick off items on a "bucket list" of what she wants to do before she dies -- including traveling to the Grand Canyon last week.
(With Agency inputs)
