Media Portrayal of Terminally Ill Patients' Right to Die

Hausarbeit , 2014 , 21 Seiten , Note: 88%

Medien / Kommunikation - Massenmedien allgemein

For many people, it is of paramount importance that life is preserved in every sense of the word. But for terminally ill patients, life seems hopeless to the point where death becomes their only way out of suffering and excruciating pain. This paper identifies two terminally ill patients’ cases and their pursuit to fight for their right-to-die. To identify their cases, this paper examines literature on physician assisted suicide and active euthanasia coupled with the news articles.

This examination indicates that there are vast distinctions between the two methods terminally patients can use to die. These methods, arguments for and against, and the media representation of both patients’ cases are the central platforms of this paper. I hypothesized that the media portrayal of terminally ill patients’ right to physician assisted suicide or voluntary active euthanasia is positive and this portrayal is geared towards support for those patients’ right-to-die. This hypothesis hinges on media articles on Brittany Maynard and Grace Sung Eun Lee cases as portrayed in online news sources.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• INTRODUCTION
• LITERATURE REVIEW
  • Physician Assisted Suicide and Voluntary Active Euthanasia
  • Proposing Perspectives
  • Opposing Perspectives
• RESEARCH QUESTION
• RESEARCH METHODLOGY
  • Methods
• FINDINGS
  • Findings and interpretation of Opinion Questionnaire Results
• DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
• REFERENCES

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper analyzes the media portrayal of terminally ill patients’ right-to-die stories. It aims to examine how online news sources represent the cases of Brittany Maynard and Grace Sung Eun Lee, two recent examples of individuals who sought the right to end their own lives. The paper also includes findings from a social survey to gain insights into public opinion on physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and voluntary active euthanasia (VAE).

• The legal right-to-die issue for terminally ill patients
• The role of the media in shaping public opinion on PAS and VAE
• The distinction between PAS and VAE
• Arguments for and against PAS and VAE
• The media representation of specific cases of terminally ill patients seeking the right to die

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: This chapter introduces the topic of terminally ill patients' right-to-die and highlights the growing importance of this issue in public discourse. It emphasizes the role of the media in shaping public opinion and sets the stage for analyzing the cases of Brittany Maynard and Grace Sung Eun Lee.
• Literature Review: This chapter delves into the history and development of PAS and VAE, examining the key arguments for and against these practices. It explores relevant legislation and legal precedents in the United States and internationally.
• Research Question: This section outlines the specific research question that the paper aims to answer. It focuses on the media portrayal of terminally ill patients' right-to-die and its potential impact on public opinion.
• Research Methodology: This chapter describes the methods used in the research, including the analysis of media articles from four online news sources and the findings of an online questionnaire survey.
• Findings: This chapter presents the results of the research, focusing on the media representation of the cases of Brittany Maynard and Grace Sung Eun Lee. It analyzes the key themes and messages conveyed in the media coverage.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

This paper focuses on the complex and sensitive issue of terminally ill patients' right-to-die, exploring the ethical and legal considerations surrounding physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and voluntary active euthanasia (VAE). The paper examines the media's role in shaping public opinion on these practices, analyzing the portrayal of specific cases and the arguments presented in support of or against these options. Key themes include the right to autonomy, the elimination of suffering, media representation, and public opinion.

• Hochschule: Communication University of China (Institute of Communication Stuides)
• Veranstaltung: International Communication
• Note: 88%
• Autor: Asheida Charles (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2014
• Seiten: 21
• Katalognummer: V311256
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668101173
• ISBN (Buch): 9783668101180
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: media, portrayal, terminally, patients, right