PORTLAND, Ore. — Brittany Maynard's mother is responding angrily to criticism from the Vatican of Maynard's decision to end her life early under an Oregon law written to let terminally ill patients die on their own terms.
Days after Maynard's Nov. 1 death at age 29, the Vatican's top bioethics official called her choice "reprehensible" and said physician-assisted suicide should be condemned.
Maynard's mother, Debbie Ziegler, issued a sharp written response Tuesday. She said the comments from Monsignor Ignacio Carrasco de Paula, head of the Pontifical Academy for Life, came as the family was grieving and were "more than a slap in the face."
Her response was made through Compassion & Choices, an advocacy group that Maynard worked with in her last days.
Maynard suffered from terminal brain cancer and in the spring was given six months to live. She moved to Oregon from Northern California with her husband and parents because Oregon allows terminally ill patients to die using lethal medications prescribed by a doctor.
Maynard used her story to speak out for the right of the terminally ill to end their lives on their own terms. A media campaign by her and Compassion & Choices sparked a national conversation.
Some religious groups and social conservatives, including the American Life League, also have criticized Maynard's decision.
Pope Francis denounced the right-to-die movement Saturday, saying euthanasia is a sin against God and creation. Thinking of euthanasia as an act of dignity provides a "false sense of compassion," Francis said. He didn't refer specifically to Maynard's case.
