I am stunned.

After mourning Bhutto's passing, I find myself on the other end of the death spectrum, contemplating Oregon's Death with Dignity law. Under the act, terminally-ill individuals can choose to use prescribed drugs to end their lives. I've always supported the law, but it's been an abstract concept for me. I don't know any individuals who have made use of its provisions, and I haven't read many detailed or personal accounts of the same.

But that changed today.

While reading over the Oregonian, I found on their website the series "Living to the End." The reports feature written stories and video/audio diaries of Portland resident Lovelle Svart's battle with cancer and decision to end her life through our Death with Dignity act. For me, the diaries had a profound humanizing effect on my understanding of Death with Dignity. It's far from an irresponsible, wanton prescription; to call it such is callous and unfair. Instead, Lovelle's death demonstrates how one woman with terminal cancer chose to end her life peacefully, harming no one, with the support of her family and friends. For her it was about choice and dignity.

Her death didn't come rashly or suddenly. She contemplated at-length before finally deciding to go through with it.

In that light, I'd strongly suggest you take a look at the final segment of the series, titled "Her Last Hours." The audio tape of when she takes the drugs shows just why she chose the path she did, and is a sobering reminder of both the frailty of life and the serendipity of dying on one's own terms, when one is ready and has exhausted life's riches. As her words slur and she drops into a coma, I found myself willing back tears and holding my breath.

Although the law is controversial, it speaks to how our State has progressed ahead of many others. We let live; and, if necessary and with the proper safeguards and support, can look beyond ourselves enough to let die.