Manner in which she died she had control over. America tonights adam may, the young women at the center of the fight and the final choice now facing californias governor. Thanks for being with us, im joie chen. This could be a watershed moment in the National Debate over our last wishes. Californias there right now as a critical piece of legislation sits before governor jerry brown. The socalled right to die bill awaits hissing signatur his sig. Other states stand in the wings. America tonights adam may continues the question, with the young women whose lives and deaths have inspired this final decision. We cannot legislate morality. This is a matter of personal choice. Reporter california Lawmakers Debate becoming the next state to legalize medically assisted suicide. One man watching knows the issue as well as anyone. Dan diaz was married to britain menard, the california woman suffering from terminal brain cancer who openly lived out her final days advocating for the right to die. I still have enough joy and i still laugh and smile with my family and friends enough that it doesnt seem like the right time right now. But it will come because i feel myself getting sicker. Its happening each week. Reporter the couple briefly moved to oregon, where doctors can legally prescribe lethal medication. And my husband is such a lovely man, i want him to you know i understand Everyone Needs to grieve. But i want him to be happy. Reporter britain ende brittany ended her life in november 2014. Whats worse a peaceful passing or being tortures to death . Death was imminent for brittany, there wasnt anything that would change the fact that she died. The manner in which she died thats what she had control over. The 29yearold became the face of compassionate choices, legalizing the option of physician assistance dying. The controversial end of life choice is currently authorized in just five states but since menards death two additional states plus the district of columbia have taken up the issue. Its amazing one person one voice can make such a difference. However, the fact that its getting attention and support thats just reflective of the attitudes of the general public. Im not afraid to die. Were all dying. I think most people are afraid to talk about death. Whereas you know for me, its part of my life to talk about death. Stephanie packers body isnt nearly as strong as her spirit. A mother of four young children, shes dying from multiple ailments. Every day with her family is a gift. Wait for me the actual dying, im not afraid of that. Its going to happen however it happens and whenever it happens. And i hope its later than sooner. My fears are all for what happens when my kids get hurt. And who is going to stay up and worry about them all night long. Thats what the mom does. You know . I do. Thats my job. Reporter packer has joined the fight against californias sb 128, also called the end of life bill. It would allow doctors to write terminally ill patients a prescription for lethal medication. Packer would easily meet the criteria. Circular scleroderma, and suicide disease, 50 of trigeminal neuralgia patients kill themselves within a year of the disease. Doctors gave packer three years to live three years ago. Although she is running out of Treatment Options for this devout catholic, ending her life with a pill is unthinkable. Are you religiously motivated in this . Is this your primary reason . It is definitely part of my reason but it most definitely is not my only reason. There are very real problems with this bill. Proants say thoug proponents sea though that this is a choice bill, no doctor will ever force you to take this pill or no Insurance Company can force you to do it. But they can take away options for you. Does it save money. Absolutely. End of life care is the most expensive care out there. Reporter how does religion play into this debate . The issue here is really that the government should not be in the business of choosing one religion over another, in terms of how the law works. Reporter tony brodus is the director of compassion in choices california. The main group lobbying in favor of sb 128. Part of getting the medication, ive heard this over and over again is not whether you take it or not. Its knowing that that option is there, knowing you can have a peaceful death. And that allows you to live more fully. Reporter but stephanies choice is different. She wants to honor her catholic faith and taking her own life would be a sin. Were talking about your end of life, your kids, what their future will be like with you in it. And yet here you are fighting against this. Why . This 85 prescription will be some peoples only option. If Something Like this passes. Everyone needs to read what is in this bill and not just come to the table and say, its a choice. Because this is bad medicine. Reporter whats wrong with california . This is a bandaid solution that over the long term is going to make matters worse. Dr. Aaron karioti is a medical ethicist. We know in oregon less than 6 of patients who have died by assisted suicide were ever referred for psychiatric consultation. Back when they were tracking this data only 16 of patients got a palliative referral, to get a consult on end of care before getting a prescription on the deadly drug. All the arguments they bring up, its a slippery slope, the person is simply depressed, this is an act of depression, coercion, the exact same arguments that were brought up 20 years ago, here we are 20 years later april it being in after it being in practice for 20 years, there hasnt been a single practice of those concerns. Would you wish she had given you more time . I always feel that way, i see a photo of her, i think to myself thats my baby. Man, the deal was we were supposed to be together forever. That was the deal. Thats why we got married. Theres all of that, frustration, anger. But my wife took control over her dying process. She harmed no one else along the way. A peaceful passing surrounded by her loved ones. We should all be so lucky. America tonights adam may joins us tonight to follow up on this. Adam this young mother you spoke to stephanie as she thinks about her decision, she says her faith is there in front of her leading her and making her decision. But this could also be for Governor Brown as he considers his decision whether or not the sign. Joie, the legislation is signature on his desk, he has given no indication which way hes going on this. Hes facing lobbying both sides, polling well favorable among california voters. One poll says its 76 . On the other hand yes. Governor brown at one time considered going into the priest priesthood. He is a catholic and the Catholic Church in california was a main lobbying force trying to defeat the legislation. The governor is trying to work out other details, and theres no way of telling which way hes going to go on this. Other states as we noted are watching very carefully to see what california does. Reporter yes, california would be by far the largest state to make this option available to people. And you know theres a saying sometimes when it comes to law. What california does can sometimes become a role model for the rest of the nation. And already in just the last couple of days you have lawmakers in new york, in new jersey, in pennsylvania, coming out saying were watching whats happening in california, their legislature has passed this, and now it is the time for us to make a move. In fact in the last year almost two dozen lawmakers have brought this up in one form or another and these proponents of right to die legislation are feeling momentum. And in california whats inspiring that legislation is what happened in oregon. What has happened in oregon . Since they passed that legislation in oregon, 1300 prescriptions for lifeending medication have been handed out and 800 people have taken the medication. Last year the most so far, just over 100 people, ended their life using the righttodie legislation. So while a lot of people are talking about this, its interesting to note that even in states like oregon which has had this on the books now for almost two decades, still a very, very small portion of people are taking this choice. America tonights adam may. Next we update the attempt to save more students from sex crimes on campus. Later on call, the emergency worker who delivers a surprise with every crisis. How about america tonights website now, jaws, getting down and dirty with a shark for sport or science . At aljazeera. Com americatonight. In our fast forward segment a case weve watched closely here on america tonight. New criminal charges have been filed in the murder of a Virginia College student a death that been unsolved for nearly six years. A second murder may help bring that case to closure and absolve the family of morgan harrison. America tonights Lori Jane Gliha has that story. Everything in morgan harringtons room, everything this her room is still right where she left them in 2009. She was a lot of fine, she really was. Reporter that was morgans junior year at Virginia Tech and the last time her mother jill saw her alive. Its still comforting to me to have her stuff around me. I know that will change. Reporter the 20yearold an artist who wanted to be a teacher disappeared after attending a metallica concert at john paul o jones arena. Having our daughter missing felt worse than having her death. There are rituals, you know how to eulogize, missing, youre on a pendulum trying to keep hope alive and yet logic is filling you with despair. Walking that knife edge is debilitating, difficult. 101 days will pass before morgans schedule tannized body was found buy farmer at a field ten miles away. Her mother feels she was kidnapped raped and murdered. It was likely we would find the criminal predator who killed morgan from forensics on the body. Something in me came up. A separate rape from 2005. All of it connected back to one person. Jesse matthew, at the time a man twice accused but never convictof Sexual Assault on two Different College campuses. America tonights Lori Jane Gliha is here following up on this. Jessie matthew, now he has been charged with different charges. A grand jury has indicted him. Six years nearly they have been waiting for answer he on this and originally her shirt was found with some dna on it. They knew dna was connected to another violent rape in 2005, and unfortunately in 2014 when Hannah Graham was killed, all three cases connected back to this person. Jesse was convicted of this rape in 2005, and now Hannah Graham and morgan harringtons case. Her mother, a long road i can imagine. But they must have some consolation knowing they have been able to effect some change in virginia law. She did turn her grief into ca activism. Unfortunately it wasnt until the case of Hannah Graham that a lot of legislators started paying attention. They did pass laws that went into effect this last july, one that focuses on College Campuses where theyve now injected a Law Enforcement officer into the process of Sexual Assault reporting on campuses, and another one that went into place was this dna idea which there are several more misdemeanors in virginia that can require a convicted suspect dna to be put into a data bank in virginia. They are happy those have gone into effect. We have talked a lot about sex crimes on campus and to have a Law Enforcement officer involved early in the case can be very controversial. Not all believe that is right approach. Youre right, there were people who depressed this could be disturbing. What this law already does a college is already supposed to promptly review a case whether or not there is criminal investigation. They should put this on the review board at the college so that person then is reviewing fanned they feel like a felony has occurred that person is obligated to report down the line, to a prosecutor or Law Enforcement officer. It doesnt force them to participate but at least gets another person a Law Enforcement official involved to get investigation done. America tonights Lori Jane Gliha. Next one, 99 and 87, the unlikely combination saving lives in maine. And Lisa Fletcher with Syrian Refugees in chi they found for their lives but the new home they found left them desperate to return. Thats thursday on america the new trend in retirement, not the latest survey finds most people over the age of 65 dont want to retire. Its not just the matter of having not enough money, some are not ready to hang its up. Were not just talking about desk jobs or being a greeter at a big box store, keeping the pedal to the metal and redefining what it means to be an older worker. Reporter if you need Emergency Medical Care in Southern Maine dont be surprised when Edna Mitchell shows up. Back in town back in service. An 87yearold great grandmother Edna Mitchell is maines oldest emt and ambulance driver. Basically when the pager goes off im ready. All i have to do is tell them that liberty 202 is responding. I imagine somebody might look at you and say, she cant do this, what are they thinking . You are just a force of nature, clearly. The surprise factor with you is huge. Well, a couple years ago i went on a call and one of my swimming friends said well one of my friends from New Hampshire said they were in an accident and some old woman helped them. So i know who they were talking about. Reporter a volunteer for liberty fire department, mitchell covers some 400 square miles of Coastal Maine handling more than 100 calls a year, more than 4,000 calls on 37 years on the job. It is a lot of pressure. It is but you know i feel kind of dedicated to work. Mitchell is a pioneer. Her interest in Emergency Medical Care goes back to world war ii, a time when women in jobs like emt or firefighter were rare. What got you interested in being an emt . Well, during world war ii my mother and father took a first aid class. And i get right into it with them and i was a teenager. When it was time for the final test, they let me go with them. And i took the final test and the word came back that id got highest rank. Through the years, mitchells had other jobs being a teacher, being a farmer but she says emt is her true calling. I got to get my radio. Reporter the radio is always by her side. Even when shes out tending to her 80 acres. Isnt that a good sized beet right there . Look at that one right over there. Thats my college. Thats my college right there. There, am i a farmer or not . Youre a farmer edna and an emt and a teacher. And i should have brought a bag. What do you love most about doing what you do . I call it my social life. I get to see people, i know them, people i dont know, people i should know. And the other ambulance people treat me like i was their age actually. I mean they treat me so well, its nice. Its fun. And you feel like youve done something. Maybe its an answer to area prayers. Reporter being part of the gang keeps mitchell mentally young. Staying physically young is also an important part of the job. When i get up in the morning, i the first thing i do, i do some situps before i even get out of bed because the quilts hold my feet down. Then i do 20 minutes of exercise then. So i challenged her to a friendly competition. Were going to do it. Im ready. Are you . Look at you are you sure youre 87 . I think so. Dang how many more . I dont know, i dont want to do them forever. Ive done them once today. Ah, call it quits. Okay. Thank god she wanted to call it quits even the recent death of her husband elmer handy slowed her hasnt slowed her down. Shes always willing to go out the door. Shes been recognized by the state legislature and her dedication has inspired a family tradition. Two grand daughters and a great granddaughter have followed in her footsteps. How old were you when you decided, i want to follow grandma . At 16 i became an emt. Did you go out on calls with her . Yes, we did, we answered a lot of calls together over the years. Shes probably the biggest influence in my life clearly. I couldnt have had a better example. Youve created quite a legacy here. Its fun. Theyve all been so good about it. Next year, mitchells life will take another dramatic term. Her contract set to run out, shes decided its time to finally call it quits. Walking away from her lifes calling wont be easy. Until then though, neighbors and visitors to liberty can rest assured, Edna Mitchell is on the job. 202 to waldo com. Ill miss it more than anything. Lisa fletcher, al jazeera. Tell us what you think. Aljazeera. Com americatonight. Come back. Well have more of america tonight, tomorrow. F he was so ahead of his time. Father Junipero Serra was so devastating to native american cultures. We have suffered greatly, what kind of saint would allow that . And youre gonna let the pope know . Absolutely. We powerful earthquake is felt in chile, five people are dead and a million have been evacuated. Hello, i am Darren Jordan with the world news from al jazeera. Also ahead. The hungary written police face script as refugees are teargassed on the border with serbia. Chaos in ba ken ba curr dee. We dont need an apprentice in the white house, we have one right now. And talking