Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Death with Dignity Act Named After Nurse Practitioner; Spanish Patient's Body Producing Antibodies Against Ebola; ISIS Surrounds Another Iraqi Air Base; Facebook, Apple to Pay for Female Employees to Freeze Eggs; Ebola-Infected Nurse Who Treated Duncan Speaks

Aired October 14, 2014 - 14:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAMELA BROWN, CNN ANCHOR: Her push to end her life has restarted the debate on the right terminally ill patients have to die. Today, 29- year-old Brittany Maynard opened up to CBS about why she wants to act before brain cancer kills her. Maynard wrote an opinion piece for cnn.com calling for more states to adopt laws that allow some terminally ill patients to obtain lethal medications.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRITTANY MAYNARD, TERMINALLY ILL WITH BRAIN CANCER: I don't want to die. If anyone wants to hand me like a magical cure and save my life so that I can have children with my husband, you know, I will take them up on it.

But I think until anyone has walked a mile in my shoes and knows what they're facing and has felt the like just bone-splitting headaches I get sometimes or the seizures, or the inability to speak or the moments where I'm looking at my husband's face and I can't think of his name. I'd say my sadness centers around how much I want a family. And it feels like, for me, that was always like how you created legacy through your children. And sort of inadvertently through sharing my story, there's a bit of a legacy creating this way and I'm not ashamed of that. Not ashamed to attach my name to what I think is a right that should belong to all terminally ill Americans. I really do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BROWN: What a courageous woman. And CBS reports that Maynard's current drugs have caused her face to swell. Maynard intends to end her life some time after her husband's birthday on October 26th.

And Brittany Maynard moved from California to Oregon specifically because of the Death with Dignity Act. Oregon was the first state to pass what's known as an assistant suicide law. It went into effect back in 1997.

And one of those who fought to get the law passed was a nurse practitioner named Patty Rosen. She went public about her dying daughter's final days, revealing a deeply personal secret she kept for more than a decade, she gave the lethal dose to her own daughter.

Samantha O'Connor, from KTVZ, has the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATTY ROSEN, NURSE PRACTITIONER FOUGHT FOR DIGNITY WITH DEATH ACT: This is the healthy Jodi.

SAMANTHA O'CONNOR, REPORTER, KTVZ (voice-over): Patty Rosen's daughter was sick.

ROSEN: This is Jodi six months before she died.

O'CONNOR: In 1985, Jodi started to experience severe back aches. Doctors appointments, medical tests, no clear diagnosis.

ROSEN: They all tell me I have a daughter who is a drug addict and I'm a naive mother.

O'CONNOR: Patty knew this was not true. Jodi was deteriorating quickly, so Patty rushed her to San Diego. More appointments, more tests, and the results were earth shattering.

ROSEN: When the doctor called me back, he was crying. And he said she doesn't have any bones left. Doesn't have any bones left.

O'CONNOR: Bone cancer from her head to her toes. The 25-year-old would never leave her bed again.

ROSEN: She was never going to go into a restaurant that she loved to do. She was not going to go to a movie. She was not going to make love again. Her whole life was over.

O'CONNOR: Even at a young age, Jodi's strength shined through.

ROSEN: She looked at me and said, you have to help me die.

O'CONNOR: A nurse practitioner, Patty was no stranger to suffering. But her battle to help the terminally ill had only just begun.

ROSEN: I stood at her bedside that last day and she said, "Cross your heart and promise me you will work for the rights of the terminally ill, because no mother should have to do this."

O'CONNOR: After she helped Jodi die, Patty entered a state of shock.

ROSEN: Everyone knew I had a daughter die, but no one knew that I had assisted her death.

O'CONNOR: Patty kept her mouth shut for seven years. Then it was time to honor her promise to Jodi.

ROSEN: Always support Death with Dignity. I've seen too much suffering.

O'CONNOR: The Oregonian published her letter highlighting the importance of Death with Dignity. Not long after, she became the chief spokeswoman for the ballot measure that passed in 1994. Until this day, she speaks about the importance of the law.

ROSEN: That to me was love.

O'CONNOR: Talking about her daughter's passing was impossible until recently.

ROSEN: Your whole life goes away. Your life is never ever, ever the same.

O'CONNOR: Due to her medical background, Patty had access to the drugs to help end her daughter's suffering.

ROSEN: And it was like I was out of body.

O'CONNOR: When Jodi died on October 30th, 1986, Patty had committed a felony. But because of her long silence and statute of limitations, she was free from criminal charges.

Even with the risk of spending her life in prison, she knew she had to free Jodi from her personal prison.

ROSEN: After I dosed her, so to speak, it took forever for her to stop breathing. And all that time I'm thinking, "Please don't wake up. I could never do this again. Please don't wake up."

O'CONNOR: Jodi's pain subsided with her last breath.

ROSEN: I climbed in bed with her and I took her in my arms and I said, "We did it. We did it. You're OK now."

O'CONNOR: But Patty's pain will never end.

ROSEN: The hardest part, Sam, is I was so alone with this whole thing. The only person who totally got it was Jodi. And she was on her way somewhere else, without pain.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BROWN: Samantha O'Connor, thank you for that.

And in other news today, as President Obama gets ready to hold a strategy meeting in the war against ISIS, we're getting some breaking news. ISIS terrorists have surrounded yet another Iraqi air base and are preparing to launch an attack. All this to the West of Baghdad. We'll take you live after this break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: Turning to the Ebola crisis in Spain now, 81 people in that country are being monitored for possible exposure to the dreaded virus. Only 15 in hospitals and the rest in isolation at home.

Nursing assistant, Theresa Romero, is doing slightly better today we're told. And a source tells CNN that Romero's body is producing antibodies to battle the virus. She remains in stable but serious condition after being infected while treating two Spanish missionaries who got sick in Africa and later died back home in Spain.

CNN's senior international correspondent, Nic Robertson, is monitoring her situation in Madrid.

And, Nic, we understand that she's taking some extraordinary measures to keep down the risk to her colleagues. What is she doing?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, we were talking with her doctor today, and, of course, this doctor is not just her doctor, Theresa Romero's doctor, it's her friend. They were both a few weeks ago treating these missionaries here who had Ebola. They know each other. They're good friends. And what the doctor told me today is that Theresa Romero is actually helping them sort of do her own treatment to avoid her friends and colleagues getting infected.

This is what the doctor told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. MARTA ARSUAGA, TROPICAL DISEASE SPECIALIST: She's worried about us. OK, don't touch there. No, I can do it, don't worry. She's helping us to treat her. So she wants --

ROBERTSON: She's helping you in order to not put you at greater risk?

ARSUAGA: Of course, yes. She was where I am now. She knows what I have to do. How I have to take off the gloves and everything. And she said, OK, OK, slowly. Don't touch these. Yes.

ROBERTSON: Well, that must make you feel pretty good.

ARSUAGA: Yeah.

ROBERTSON: Even though she's sick, she wants to help you.

ARSUAGA: Yes, she's the best patient.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTSON: Well, the best patient, they are also hoping for the best outcome here. All her friends, this doctor, the other nurses really hope that these small positive indications they've had, that she's developing her own antibodies, that the level of virus is dropping, they're hoping that these are good signs. But also on top of that, they do know that she does have -- her lungs are affected, and they say that is a bad sign, too -- Pam?

BROWN: Just really incredible that she's battling Ebola and yet thinking so much of her friends and colleagues during this time.

Nic Robertson, thank you so much for sharing that report with us.

A few minutes from now, we're expecting to learn more about the patients here in the United States. The CDC is holding a news conference with an update and we plan on bringing that to you live. Plus, we're getting breaking news this hour. ISIS terrorists have

surrounded another Iraqi air base and they're preparing to launch an attack. All of this to the West of Baghdad. We'll take you there live after this break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: We're getting breaking news at this hour. ISIS terrorists have surrounded yet another Iraqi air base and they're preparing to launch an attack. All of this is to the West of Baghdad happening right now.

Senior international correspondent, Ben Wedeman, is live in Baghdad watching all of this unfold.

What can you tell us, Ben?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What we can tell you is, according to police sources, Pam, that the air base about 110 miles to the West of Baghdad, one of the biggest bases in Anbar Province, is now surrounded by ISIS fighters and the people on the base are expecting an attack within the coming hours on that base. We understand there are Iraqi soldiers who have already fled the base. And it was only yesterday that another base, the Heat (ph) base, which is about 10 miles from there was overrun by is, and the soldiers from there went to that base. This appears to be yet another one of these instances where ISIS fighters, who are usually in much smaller numbers than the Iraqi army, have been able to take bases and appear to be about to take yet another one -- Pam?

BROWN: Wow. Two days in a row right there in the same area, Ben. Do we know how many of the forces have actually fled?

WEDEMAN: No, we don't. The numbers are hard to come by at this point. We were getting reports from several hours that some of the soldiers had left, shedding their uniforms, leaving their weapons behind, which is really part of the pattern we've seen going back to June when the Iraqi army fled in the face of a much smaller force, it should be added, from ISIS when they took over the city of Mosul in northern Iraq. So it seems yet another disaster for the Iraqi army and Anbar Province, which at this point is controlled at least 80 percent by ISIS if not more -- Pam?

BROWN: Really discouraging. And we know that President Obama in today's meeting with world military leaders, you can bet this will likely come up in the discussion. Also, the White House coming out today and saying the strategy against ISIS is working. So a lot to follow here.

Ben Wedeman, thank you so much for that report. We appreciate it.

And just a reminder for you. Moments from now, we expect to learn more about the Ebola patients here in the United States. The CDC holding a news conference with an update and we plan on bringing that to you live. Plus, protecting women's right to have children or protecting their

own bottom line? Facebook announcing it will pay for an employee to freeze her eggs. And some are questioning the motives about this. We'll tell you more about the company's plan up next. Stay with us. Really interesting discussion to be had.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROWN: Facebook revealing today that it will pay for an employee to freeze her eggs. "NBC News" reports that Apple will add the same benefit next year. And it's turning now, this company perk carries some contradiction. Supporters say it helps promote motherhood. But critics say it's helping to delay it.

Let's talk about it with CNN digital correspondent, Kelly Wallace; and "CNN Money's" Cristina Alesci.

So much to talk about with this here. A lot of strong opinions about this move.

But, Cristina, if you want to sort of break it down for us. How does this work? Is it part of the health coverage for the employees?

CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: That's exactly right. So in Facebook's case, it's part of the Aetna plan they offer to their employees. But here's what's really unusual. It's been deemed a luxury to have. It's been deemed an elective procedure because the ideal candidate is a woman who is healthy and fertile. So companies have viewed this as, "This is your own choice. If you want to delay motherhood and freeze your eggs while they're young and fertile and healthy, then that cost is on you." And that cost could be substantial. We're talking about one round of treatment costing up to $10,000. Most women need two. Plus -- so that's $20,000, plus the yearly cost of preserving these eggs, which is about $500. It's significant cost.

BROWN: Yeah.

And supporters, you know, say this is giving women options that they don't have to feel pressured by their biological clocks. Also, there's critics, Kelly, that say this could put more pressure on women, and the company's trying to send a message with this.

KELLY WALLACE, CNN DIGITAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, and when I first heard it, I was applauding Facebook and Apple and said, woo-hoo, way to go. And I didn't think about it until I started listening to people on social media about whether there could be a backlash, right? Would companies that offer this benefit basically be sending a message to women saying, no, no, no, in your 20s and 30s, you should be working around the clock because you can freeze those eggs and have your children later. There is a concern. That would be very dangerous and very, you know, a big concern for women if that were the case.

ALESCI: I just thought of this, but it would be very forward thinking to actually compensate men for taking some time off to raise the children instead of putting the burden solely on the woman, right? There's a huge stigma if men take time off. Why aren't these companies, if you really want to encourage motherhood and encourage childbearing, then have the responsibilities be shared?

BROWN: Yeah. There's a growing pressure on companies to give longer paternity leave and offer that.

And I'm curious to know, Cristina, sort of what prompted this? What's driving these companies to do this? Because we know that the tech industry in particular is pretty male dominated.

ALESCI: There are two reasons. One is, in 2012, the American society for reproductive medicine lifted the experimental label. So that increased demand for this procedure. More women were curious about it after reading about that. The other thing is, you point out the tech industry has had a pretty poor reputation or track record when it comes to women. Apple just released stats that showed 70 percent of its workforce are male. Facebook, the same thing. This could be an effort by these tech companies to go ahead and speak to women in a very powerful way.

BROWN: And do you think we could see more companies?

WALLACE: I think benefits sometimes reflect kind of where we are. You mentioned paternity leave. 15 years ago, who had paternity leave? Now more and more companies are. We still don't in this country, we should point out, have paid maternity leave. That would go a long way into seeing where we are.

And I think as companies are trying to keep women, many women will be saying, these are great benefits, but what about flexibility? What about the opportunity to work from home? What about more opportunities for child care? Those may be more important benefits to get women to continue to lean in and stay in the workplace.

BROWN: We have a long way to go, no doubt. And some will say this is a step in the right direction. I'm curious to hear your thoughts, both of your thoughts whether you think this hurts or helps motherhood in the workplace.

WALLACE: I think giving women choice is always a good thing. We were having a robust discussion in the make-up room about this with women. Why is choice a bad thing? Right? What if a woman in her 20s or 30s decides, you know what, I don't know where I'm going to be, but I want to have that. Again, it's not a guarantee. The numbers are not 100 percent. The numbers are about 25 percent of women, if they freeze their eggs at age 30, will have a successful birth. Why not give women more choices? I think that's a good thing.

ALESCI: Absolutely. There's a timing element. And sometimes when you're at the best age to have children, it doesn't necessarily reflect or -- you may not be the exact area of your career where you should be taking that time off and focusing on having a baby. So this kind of technology, this kind of advances in medicine actually help those two time lines add up or come together.

BROWN: Yeah.

ALESCI: Which is very promising. Because when you leave work at the end of the day, you hit the pause button. And if you have a trajectory, you don't want to hit that pause button at the very time you're best able to have a child.

BROWN: I've had a lot of friends have this discussion about perhaps thinking about wanting to freeze their eggs. Maybe they can't afford it. And you know, like you said, this might provide another option. It's really just interesting to look at both sides of it.

And I appreciate you guys coming on and talking to me about it.

ALESCI: Exactly. Thank you.

WALLACE: Good to be here.

BROWN: And top of the hour, I'm Pamela Brown right here on NEWSROOM.

Moments from now, the CDC will hold a news conference regarding the controversial response to the Ebola outbreak here in the U.S. And for the first time, we are hearing from the Dallas nurse who became infected after treating Ebola patient, Thomas Eric Duncan.

CNN anchor, Anderson Cooper, live for us in Dallas right now.

Anderson, how is she doing today?

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR, A.C. 360: Well, the hospital says she's still in clinically stable condition. We're hoping to learn more in a few minutes when the director of the CDC gives a press conference with the commissioner of the health department here in Texas.

But as you said, did put out a statement through the hospital. I want to put that on the screen and read it to you. She said, quote, "I'm doing well. I want to thank everyone for the kind wishes and prayers. I'm blessed by the support of family and friends and blessed to be cared for by the best team of doctors and nurses in the world at the Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas."

As you know, she did receive a blood transfusion from Dr. Kent Brantly. Dr. Kent Brantly was the missionary working for Samaritan's Purse in Liberia. When he became infected, he was the first American citizen flown back to the United States infected with Ebola. He has now donated blood on two other occasions. This was the third time he gave blood to someone infected with Ebola. Doctors are hoping this will have a positive impact. And we hope to hear more in a few minutes.

BROWN: And, Anderson, you've been talking to her family and friends. I'm curious what their reaction has been to Dr. Frieden's responses, first saying there was a breach in protocol and then coming back yesterday and saying that he didn't mean to blame her. What have they said about that?

COOPER: The family is very private. They are concerned about attention on this. They're viewing this as a private matter. But, as you know, this is a story of global interest. I talked to the mayor of Dallas last night who has been talking with the family. He expressed the family's concerns for privacy.

And I think a lot of people here were certainly offended early on by the director of the CDC's comments, making it seem like the nurse was somehow responsible, had done something wrong by violating protocol. And Dr. Sanjay Gupta showed us last night and on the air today, as well, taking off the CDC -- the CDC protocol for taking off that protective gear, it is risky, and easy to contaminate yourself if you do not do it properly. So the CDC is certainly looking at their protocols to see if anything needs to change on that front.