Death with Dignity

Madison Smith

Mr. Frazier

English 111

31 March 2015

Death with Dignity

When discussing a serious issue, there is always going to be two sides. Many people have a strong opposition against certain issues, as they go against their religion, ethics, or morals. In recent years, the debate on physician-assisted suicide has substantially increased. The issue is whether a doctor should have the power to aid the death of a terminally ill individual. It is often argued that this act is morally wrong, and that it promotes death, instead of the preservation of life. On the contrary, the Death with Dignity Act can be viewed as a right that the terminally ill should possess in order to end their misery, and die with dignity. In How to Die in Oregon, director Peter Richardson effectively uses pathos, ethos, and logos to persuasively convince the viewer that the Death with Dignity Act should be enacted.

How to Die in Oregon examines several terminally ill people in Oregon, and their experiences with the Death with Dignity Act. This documentary shows real instances of people who have died under the act, and how they are able to demise with peace and dignity. The film also focuses on a fifty-four year old woman, Cody Curtis, who is diagnosed with liver cancer and is given six months to live. The film portrays Curtis’ struggles and her indecisiveness of whether to use the Death with Dignity Act to her benefit. In addition, this documentary gives insight of a woman, Nancy Niedzielski, and her promise to her deceased husband to fight for the passing of the Death with Dignity Act in Washington State.

One of the most predominant rhetorical techniques used in the documentary was pathos. This is apparent at the very beginning of the film, as a man is shown preparing himself to drink the lethal medicine, Seconal. This scene is very surprising, and it shows the man drinking the medicine, laying down, and drifting off into a “deep sleep” as his family surrounded him for support and comfort. By showing the man end his life through the Death with Dignity Act, it is prevalent from the beginning that it truly helps terminally ill patients rest in peace. Pathos is a convincing technique, as it not only shows the feelings and experiences of the terminally ill individual, but their family and friends’ too. Nancy Niedzielski and her husband, Randy, are introduced and shown throughout the documentary. Nancy’s husband was diagnosed with brain cancer that metastasized to his spinal cord and nervous system. Nancy describes her husband’s death as miserable, painful, and long. Nancy and Randy lived in Washington State, which had not passed the Death with Dignity Act. Randy was desperate to use this act to avoid a painful death, but he was unable to due to his residency in Washington. Nancy revealed that she made a promise to her husband that she would fight for the law to be passed in Washington, so other terminally ill patients could choose to end their life under this act. Near the end of the documentary, it shows the passing of the law in Washington, and Nancy’s excitement, as she stated, “This is for you, Randy. I love you most of all, and then some.” The whole documentary appeals to the viewers’ emotions, making them feel sad because of the deaths, but also creating a sense of peacefulness.

Furthermore, ethos was another rhetorical technique used in the documentary. Throughout the film, there were many doctors, each distributing the lethal medication to the terminally ill patients. The doctor of Cody Curtis, who appeared throughout the whole documentary, gave credible information regarding Cody and the guidelines behind the Death with Dignity Act. Dr. Katherine Morris, Cody’s doctor, stuck by her side throughout her hard journey, providing her with any help and information that was available. Cody trusted her doctor, and made her aware of everything that affected her because of her illness. The documentary also featured Derek Humphry, a journalist, author, President of the Euthanasia Research and Guidance Organization, and the founder of the Hemlock Society. He provides the reasoning behind the Death with Dignity act, and how it helps people deal with their problems when dying of a terminal illness.