Persuasive Essay Outline

Thesis statement: Every terminally ill patient has the right to choose to die in peace and with dignity painlessly.

        I.            Introduction: What is the Death with Dignity Act?

a.       It allows terminally ill patients to be prescribed lethal medication as an aid in dying.

     II.            What is the process in becoming a candidate?

b.      Must be 18 years or older

c.       Diagnosed with a terminal illness that will, within reasonable medical judgement, lead to death within six months by two physicians

d.      A resident of Oregon, Washington, or Vermont

e.       Has to be mentally competent, for example, capable of making and communicating your health care decisions

f.        Must be able to self-administer and ingest the prescribed medication

g.      What states have passed the Death with Dignity Act?

h.      Oregon

i.        Washington

j.        Vermont

  III.            The pros of Death with Dignity Act

a.       A person will have the freedom to select induced death when they are already suffering too much, where even the finest treatment does not enhance life’s quality

b.      Legalizing Death with Dignity will help in alleviating the patient’s suffering of terminal ill. It will be unfair and inhuman to allow them to stand the intolerable pain

c.       The motive of the Act is to aid in dying painlessly

d.      Death with Dignity Act follows the theory of coping with suffering in a way that assists a person from dying peacefully

e.       Death with Dignity gives the right for the patient enabling them to make a decision about the value of death and life.

  IV.            The Cons of Death with Dignity Act

a.       This is considered as a homicide and killing or murdering another individual may not be rationalized on any circumstances

b.      Rehabilitation care centers are more favorable alternatives to assist dying patients live a better and pain free life

c.       Family members may take advantage through influencing the decisions of the patients into it just for their own gains

d.      It is an act of murdering in all religious beliefs

e.       Feels it is an easy way out

f.        Feels it devalues human life

g.      Fear that people may abuse it

    V.            Conclusion: The Death with Dignity Act promotes human dignity for certain terminally ill patients. Death with Dignity is a humane, dignified, and compassionate option to hasten death. There are other options to hasten your death, whether or not your state allows physician-assisted dying. This Act gives them the ability to have control over their final days or months of life. More than likely they will be dependent on a caregiver and in time they will no longer be able to do the basics of life.  Physician assisted suicide should be considered a positive resource for terminally ill patients, rather than an easy way out. They have the right to die peacefully on their own terms surrounded by the ones they love.