Media Portrayal of Terminally Ill Patients' Right to Die

Seminar paper from the year 2014 in the subject Communications - Mass Media, grade: 88%, Communication University of China (Institute of Communication Stuides), course: International Communication, language: English, abstract: 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.

I am an academic enthusiast from Grenada, a small island in the Caribbean. In 2010, I graduated from St. George's University with a bachelor of science degree in marketing. In 2015, I graduated with a master of arts degree in international communication from Communication University of China. I believe in the power of education. Coming from humble beginnings, I knew there was only one way out and that was through education. I have empowered myself through learning, experience and the eagerness to achieve. On the personal or cultural side, I have been crowned Miss Grenada National Carnival Queen 2008 and Miss Carival 2009. I've participated in seven beauty pageants, my participation has boost my self confidence, self esteem and has filled me with humility. In the future I will embark on pursuing my PhD in media studies/communication. In terms of the career path, I am interested in academia and as such I will like to be a professor/lecturer/teacher. I know that there is a rewarding satisfaction in sharing knowledge while learning from others and helping them with the journey towards success, I will like to be a part of that movement.