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Daniel Ellsberg Diagnosed With Terminal Cancer – A Letter to the Editor by Faye Girsh

As most of you may recall, Daniel Ellsberg (born April 7, 1931) is an American political activist, and former United States military analyst. While employed by the RAND Corporation, Ellsberg precipitated a national political controversy in 1971 when he released the Pentagon Papers, a top-secret Pentagon study of the U.S. government decision-making in relation to the Vietnam War,  to The New York TimesThe Washington Post and other newspapers. The break-in to his psychiatrist’s office by Watergate “plumbers” touched off an investigation into illegal evidence gathering and misconduct by the government, which ultimately led to Former President Nixon’s resignation from office.

The following is Faye Girsh’s letter to the San Diego Union Tribune in regard to a 2023 news story about Daniel Ellsberg’s announcement that he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer which had progressed beyond medical treatment. The doctors estimated in mid-February that he had three to six months of life left. HSSD is proud of Faye’s longstanding advocacy for a peaceful death.

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It’s more than a glimpse of mortality when Daniel Ellsberg and Jimmy Carter are both experiencing their last days.  I’m sure hospice care is helping, but often it cannot always relieve the suffering at the end of life. Medical Aid in Dying, as we have in California and 9 other states and D.C., is another alternative to achieving a peaceful ending, though our law is probably the most restrictive such law in the world.  Canada is a good model for a more expanded provision.

Faye Girsh, Ed.D.
Founder,  Hemlock Society of San Diego

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