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Death With Dignity Declared A Choice

By KFBB News Team

Story Created: May 26, 2010 at 8:04 PM MST

Story Updated: May 26, 2010 at 9:27 PM MST

It's a choice that the Montana Supreme Court has ruled constitutional...yet advocates and adversaries continue to add fuel to the controversial fire surrounding the "death with dignity" choice.
In an effort to live with a terminal illness, Steve Johnson is fighting a losing battle.
"The cancer keeps coming back, and the difficulty of getting to it is getting more and more...so it's a matter of when to quit."
He's suffered from cancerous brain tumors for eight years, and continues radiation treatment...but to have the option of quitting is what gives Steve and his family a little comfort.
"Let's talk about these things, and those that want to do something, let them do it. I mean it's a matter of choice for goodness sakes."
The choice to die is one that Montana's Supreme Court calls a constitutional right.
"The Supreme Court of Montana essentially allowed doctors the choice to follow the wishes of their dying patients, and it allowed patients the choice to choose the time or the manner of their own death. The person has to be terminally ill, they have to be mentally capable to make this decision themselves, and they have to be able to administer the prescription that the doctor writes, and if those three things aren't present, this kind of procedure is not available."
But that doesn't ease the minds of wary Montanans…forums, classes, and studies are widespread, as the 'death with dignity' controversy becomes louder.
"I've worked in hospice for 14 years, and I've never had a request for that."
Alternative end of life choices, like hospice or aggressive treatment, are available.
"It is very individual what that patient chooses, and that's one thing about hospice care throughout the country…the role of hospice is to support that patient and their choices in the way that they need to."
Unless that choice is to end their life.
"At the moment, i want to live, but I'm gonna die like we all are, and I recognize that my time is closing in…I'd like to be ready in case necessary, it's a choice."
For more information on this choice, visit: http://compassionandchoices.org/MONTANA

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