Alaskan Cancer Patient Advocates for Aid in Dying
A Haines resident is seeking options for terminal care as she navigates a stage 4 cancer diagnosis.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Cancer
Kim Clune, a 56-year-old resident of Haines, Alaska, is calling for the legalization of medical aid in dying after receiving a stage 4 terminal cancer diagnosis in 2025. Facing a life expectancy of five years or less, she is currently considering traveling to New York to access the procedure.
Why it matters
Clune is pursuing these options to proactively manage the end of her life and avoid the severe pain associated with the progression of her terminal illness. Her advocacy highlights a significant legislative divide between Alaska and other jurisdictions where such medical choices are already legally protected.
A 2025 poll shows that 75% of Alaskans support the right to medical aid in dying. While this support is high, the state has no current legal framework for the practice, which requires patients to self-administer lethal medication.
The players
Kim Clune
A 56-year-old resident of Haines, Alaska, who is advocating for the legalization of medical aid in dying.
The details
Clune first received a breast cancer diagnosis in March 2019, which later metastasized to her pelvis, lungs, ovaries, bowels, and spine. Because medical aid in dying is currently illegal in Alaska, she must look to the 14 U.S. jurisdictions where the practice is permitted for legal end-of-life care.
Timeline
March 2019: Kim Clune was initially diagnosed with breast cancer.
March 2025: Clune learned her cancer had advanced to stage 4.
2025: A public poll was conducted regarding medical aid in dying in Alaska.
Health Landscape
Clune's advocacy sits in contrast to the Death with Dignity Act, a legislative model adopted by 14 U.S. jurisdictions that provides legal pathways for terminally ill patients. Alaska currently lacks this framework, marking a significant departure from the trend of increasing access to such care in other states.
Residents currently facing terminal diagnoses in Alaska have limited options for legal medical aid in dying and must travel to other states to access it. This disparity forces families to consider the significant logistical and financial burdens of out-of-state medical travel during end-of-life care.
The takeaway
The struggle for end-of-life options underscores the complex intersection of state law and personal autonomy for terminal patients. Those navigating similar circumstances may find it necessary to consult legal and medical advisors across state lines until local statutes change.
Further reading
For more information on patient care options and legislative developments, visit the Cancer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by People.
