A Vermont man who decided to take his own life shared his final moments surrounded by his loved ones while drinking a beer.
Bill Mares, 83, was told last July that he had lymphoma, a form of cancer, and was given a terminal diagnosis.
Mares refused to let cancer take her life and instead opted to avail herself of the state’s “death with dignity” law and died Monday. Her final moments were captured in a heartbreaking snapshot shared by Mares’ family after her death.
Close friends visited Mares, who was receiving hospice care, for the last time before he took the drugs that would kill him mixed into his favorite Vermont beer, Conehead.
Vermont was the first state to allow assisted suicide, despite religious groups testifying against it, sparking a debate that lasted for years.
Close friends visited Mares, who had been receiving palliative care, for the last time before he took the drugs that would kill him mixed with his favorite Vermont beer, Conehead. He is seen here with his family.
Mares made the decision with his wife of 53 years, Chris Hadsel, who supported his decision.
Speaking to WCAX, Mares said the law was a gift to him, saying, ‘IIt’s time to choose. I have to choose, and this is what I’ve chosen.
‘God bless the people of Vermont who have given all of us the right to make this choice.’
She added: “I am living the fruits of the right that I want everyone to have, which is the right to decide. I am happy to have had this wonderful life.”
Mares made the decision with his wife of 53 years, Chris Hadsel, who supported his decision. He said she kissed him before telling him: “It’s OK, it’s your decision. I love you.”
Hadsel added: ‘He really didn’t want to end up in the hospital, he didn’t want a lot of tubes or to stay there for a long time.
“It’s going to be really hard not having anybody at home. You know, if I walk in the door, there’s the dog, there’s Bill. But I’ll manage.”
Refusing to let cancer take her life, Mares opted to use the state’s “death with dignity” law and died Monday.
Mares spoke to the outlet in hopes of sharing her story that would help push a national death with dignity law through Congress, adding, “I’m on a crusade.”
Before his passing, he spoke to Vermont Senator Peter Welch, who told the outlet: ‘I support what we did in Vermont and I will defend it in Washington.
“But I think a state-by-state approach will be essential before we can achieve national legislation.”
Last year, the state became the first in the country to change its assisted suicide law to allow terminally ill people from other states to travel and use the law.
Republican Gov. Phil Scott signed the bill that removes the residency requirement for the decades-old law.