john had parkinson's disease, and as it became more and more apparent that his parkinson's was taking him downhill, he decided to end his life. he did it in a way that still makes me so sad. because there was and is no law in maryland which allows doctors to assist individuals who have been deemed within six months of death as john was, there is no law that allows doctors to help those patients. john chose to top drinking water -- stop drinking water, stop eating food, stop taking medication. now, as i'm sure many of you know -- would you forgive me if i stood up and walked? >> i think so. i think we could forgive you, diane. [applause] i'm just so much more comfortable this way. it strikes me as being a little difficult, but i hear a little echo. and if we can get that down, that would be great. as i'm sure most of you know, you can go without food for days upon days upon days but not without water. within about ten days to two weeks, the organs begin to break down without water. be -- and john chose to end his life that way, and i had chosen to write a book that i began writing on t

john had parkinson's disease and as they became more and more apparent that his parkinson's was taking him downhill he decided to end his life. he did it in a way that still makes me so sad because there was no wall in maryland which allows doctors to assist the individuals that have been deemed. there is no law that allows doctors to help those patients and to stop drinking water and stop taking medication. would you forgive me if i stood up and walked? [applause] >> i'm just so much more comfortable. it strikes me as being a little difficult. but i hear a little echo and if we can get that down that would be great. and i'm sure as most of you know you can go without food for days upon days without food for thought without water within about ten days to two weeks the organs begin to break down without water. john chose to end his life thatn way and i have chosen to write a book that i began writing on the night he was dying i was sleeping trying to sleep on two chairs by his bed with my little dog on my stomach and that didn't work so i just got up at about 2 a.m. i had my ipaq and i