Brittany plans to die peacefully and painlessly surrounded by her loved ones using self-administered drugs on November 1. She went public with her choice in a video released by dignity organisation Compassion & Choices earlier this month.

The 29-year-old moved from San Francisco to Oregon in order to have the choice of assisted suicide, a legal right which is currently available in only four other States - Washington, Montana, Vermont and New Mexico (no equivalent exists in the UK).

In one of her latest blog posts, Brittany spoke out against a physician claiming to speak on her behalf in the US right to die debate. Dr. Ira Byock has questioned whether Brittany is being exploited by Compassion & Choices in her bid to go public, and also suggested a gentle death may be available to her in a hospice.

“Unfortunately that [kind of death] would be after a great length of time, with lots of suffering (physical and emotional), and loss for my young body,” Brittany said, in her response to a TV appearance by Dr. Byock.

“Perhaps most disturbingly, Byock claimed that Compassion & Choices had somehow taken advantage of me through “exploitation” and that I feel compelled to die now based on public expectations,” Brittany goes on. “I DO NOT, this is MY choice, I am not that weak. The day is my choice, I have the right to change my mind at any time, it is my right. I am very confident about this. This is a patient right that is critical to understanding death with dignity.

“I am not depressed or suicidal or on a “slippery slope,” she added. “I have been in charge of this choice, gaining control of a terrifying terminal disease through the application of my own humane logic.”

Right to die cancer sufferer Brittany Maynard goes on dream family trip to the Grand Canyon