Jerika Bolen

Jerika Bolen, a 14-year-old girl with spinal muscular atrophy type 2 (SMA), died on Thursday after entering hospice care to end her own life. With medical interventions, SMA – which causes muscle weakness, trouble breathing and feeding difficulties – is not fatal, although it is life-threatening. Bolen’s wishes to end supportive care, and thus end her life, [...]

Back in July, 14-year-old Jerika Bolen made headlines for deciding to enter hospice care this September, and forgo using her ventilator – a measure that will ultimately end her life. Bolen, from Wisconsin, was born with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type two, a rare disease that causes muscle weakness, trouble breathing and feeding difficulties. With medical interventions, the disease [...]