A Vermont man who decided to take his own life shared his final moments surrounded by his loved ones while having a beer.
Bill Mares, 83, was told last July he had lymphoma, a form of cancer, and was given a terminal diagnosis.
Refusing to let the cancer take his life, Mares opted to use the state’s ‘death with dignity’ law and passed away on Monday. His final moments were chronicled in a heart-rending snap shared by Mares’ family after his death.
Close friends paid final visits to Mares, who had been receiving hospice care, before he took the drugs that would kill him mixed in his favorite Vermont beer, Conehead.
Vermont was the first state to allow assisted suicide, with religious groups testifying against it – causing a debate that lasted years.
Close friends paid final visits to Mares, who had been receiving hospice care, before he took the drugs that would kill him mixed in his favorite Vermont beer, Conehead. He is seen here alongside his family
Mares came to the decision with his wife of 53 years Chris Hadsel, who backed his decision
Speaking with WCAX, Mares said the law was a gift to him saying: ‘It’s time to choose. I’ve got to choose, and this is what I’ve chosen.
‘God bless the people of Vermont who have given us all the right to make this choice.’
He added: ‘I am living the results of the right that I want everyone to have, which is a right to decide. I am happy I’ve had this wonderful life.’
Mares came to the decision with his wife of 53 years Chris Hadsel, who backed his decision. He said she kissed him before saying, ‘Fine it’s your decision. I love you’.
Hadsel added: ‘He really didn’t want to end up in the hospital, didn’t want a lot of tubes and lingering.
‘It’s going to be bad to not have anybody in the house. You know, if I’ll come in the door, there’s the dog, there’s Bill. But I’ll manage.’
Refusing to let the cancer take his life, Mares opted to use the state’s ‘death with dignity’ law and passed away on Monday
Mares spoke to the outlet in hopes of sharing his story that would help a national death with dignity law be introduced in Congress, adding: ‘I’m on a crusade’.
Prior to his passing, he spoke with Vermont Senator Peter Welch who told the outlet: ‘I support what we did in Vermont and I’d advocate for it in Washington.
‘But I do think that the state-by-state approach is what is going to be essential before you’d get a national piece of legislation.’
Last year, the state became the first in the country to change their assisted suicide law to allow terminally ill people from out of state to travel and make use of the law.
Republican Gov. Phil Scott signed the bill that removes the residency requirement for the decades-old law.
