Informative Speech on Euthanasia
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the three major categories of euthanasia.
Central Idea: Euthanasia can be categorized into voluntary, non-voluntary and involuntary.
Introduction
I. He has lived a long good fulfilling life. A. But he is now in a coma and on a ventilator to help him breathe. B. He doesn’t know who he is or who his family members are. C. Imagine this person to be a loved one: your mom, dad, grandma, grandpa or a significant other. D. What would you do? E. Would you pull the plug to end your loved one pain and suffering? II. According to the American Medical Association, euthanasia is the administration of a lethal agent by another person to a patient for the purpose of relieving the patient’s intolerable and incurable suffering. III. Tonight, I will introduce you to the three types of euthanasia: voluntary, non-voluntary and involuntary.
(Transition: Let’s first start with voluntary euthanasia.)
Body I. Euthanasia conducted with the consent of the patient is called voluntary euthanasia. A. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy defined voluntary euthanasia as “those instances of euthanasia in which a clearly competent person makes a voluntary and enduring request to be helped to die.” B. This form of euthanasia is legal throughout the United States.
(Transition: Unlike voluntary euthanasia, non-voluntary euthanasia does not have the patient’s consent.
II. Euthanasia conducted where the consent of the patient is unavailable is called non-voluntary euthanasia. A. An example is child euthanasia.
1. This is applied to children who are gravely ill or suffer from birth defects.
B. This form of euthanasia is illegal worldwide.
(Transition: Like non-voluntary euthanasia, involuntary euthanasia also does not have the patient’s consent.)
III. Euthanasia conducted against the will of the patient is called involuntary euthanasia. A. This form of euthanasia is
Central Idea: Euthanasia can be categorized into voluntary, non-voluntary and involuntary.
Introduction
I. He has lived a long good fulfilling life. A. But he is now in a coma and on a ventilator to help him breathe. B. He doesn’t know who he is or who his family members are. C. Imagine this person to be a loved one: your mom, dad, grandma, grandpa or a significant other. D. What would you do? E. Would you pull the plug to end your loved one pain and suffering? II. According to the American Medical Association, euthanasia is the administration of a lethal agent by another person to a patient for the purpose of relieving the patient’s intolerable and incurable suffering. III. Tonight, I will introduce you to the three types of euthanasia: voluntary, non-voluntary and involuntary.
(Transition: Let’s first start with voluntary euthanasia.)
Body I. Euthanasia conducted with the consent of the patient is called voluntary euthanasia. A. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy defined voluntary euthanasia as “those instances of euthanasia in which a clearly competent person makes a voluntary and enduring request to be helped to die.” B. This form of euthanasia is legal throughout the United States.
(Transition: Unlike voluntary euthanasia, non-voluntary euthanasia does not have the patient’s consent.
II. Euthanasia conducted where the consent of the patient is unavailable is called non-voluntary euthanasia. A. An example is child euthanasia.
1. This is applied to children who are gravely ill or suffer from birth defects.
B. This form of euthanasia is illegal worldwide.
(Transition: Like non-voluntary euthanasia, involuntary euthanasia also does not have the patient’s consent.)
III. Euthanasia conducted against the will of the patient is called involuntary euthanasia. A. This form of euthanasia is
Bibliography: Balch, Burke J. "Euthanasia." Euthanasia. Http://www.nrlc.org/, n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nrlc.org/euthanasia/>. "Opinion 2.21 - Euthanasia." Opinion 2.21 - Euthanasia. Http://www.ama-assn.org/, June 1996. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/medical-ethics/code-medical-ethics/opinion221.page>. Marker, Rita L. "Assisted Suicide: Not for Adults Only?"Http://www.patientsrightscouncil.org/. Http://www.patientsrightscouncil.org/, n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://www.patientsrightscouncil.org/site/not-for-adults-only/>. Marker, Rita L. "Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide & Health Care Decisions â Part 1."Euthanasia, Assisted Suicide & Health Care Decisions â Part 1. Http://www.patientsrightscouncil.org/, n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://www.patientsrightscouncil.org/site/euthanasia-assisted-suicide-health-care-decisions/>. Young, Robert. "Voluntary Euthanasia." (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). N.p., 18 Apr. 1996. Web. 15 Oct. 2012. <http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/euthanasia-voluntary/>.