Brittany Maynard
She transformed a private, terminal diagnosis into a public crusade for the right to die with dignity, sparking a national conversation.
1984–2014 (age 30)·American assisted suicide activist·Birthday: November 19·Millennials
Biography
Brittany Maynard was a vibrant California woman whose life took a tragic turn at 29 when she was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Facing a grim prognosis of rapid physical and mental decline, she made the radical choice to move to Oregon to access its Death with Dignity Act. Rather than keep her decision private, Maynard partnered with the advocacy group Compassion & Choices, sharing her story in a powerful online video that resonated with millions. Her calm, articulate advocacy reframed the debate around medical aid in dying from an abstract political issue to a deeply personal matter of autonomy and compassion. Her death in November 2014, on her own terms, became a catalyst for legislative efforts across the United States, leaving a legacy that continues to challenge how society views the end of life.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Brittany was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brittany Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Brittany's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
Key Achievements
- Her public advocacy is credited with significantly increasing support for death-with-dignity laws in multiple U.S. states.
- Her story, told through a viral video for Compassion & Choices, reached an audience of tens of millions.
- She posthumously inspired the introduction of right-to-die legislation, named in her honor, in several state assemblies.
Did You Know?
Before her diagnosis, she had worked as a teacher and had traveled extensively, including hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.
She chose November 1, 2014, as her date of death, shortly after her husband's birthday.
Her story was featured on the cover of People magazine in November 2014.
“I would not tell anyone else that he or she should choose death with dignity. My question is: Who has the right to tell me that I don't deserve this choice?”
