NMMR: Public speaking class help

lifeonthehill · October 2014

This is my "home board" so I figured I would come here. For my public speaking class I must state my position on a controversial subject and then answer questions from the audience. I was hoping if I posted my position on here you all might be able to pose some possible questions so I have an idea about what other people might ask me. Thanks in advance to those who choose to respond. I also want to mention that I am NOT trying to start an argument with anybody. This board has always been very level headed so I am hoping that nothing on this post damages the community we have here.

"The Death with Dignity Act should be enacted in every state."

eta: poor wording fixed

hoffse · October 2014

Some questions from both sides, off the top of my head:

Assuming you argue that it should not be enacted:

-Is the right to end one's life any business of the state?

-Couldn't you characterize the right to end one's life as a fundamental right? Is it not similar to a woman's right to choose to end a pregnancy?

-Won't this law protect physicians who believe that it is a medical certainty that their patients are terminally ill?

-While it's impossible to put a price on a life, wouldn't the application of this law to all states likely reduce the waste of time, money, and energy that the medical community spends to save patients who do not wish to be saved?

-Is it right to burden a terminally ill patient with a move across state lines so that s/he can end his/her life in another state that permits it?

Assuming you argue that it should be enacted:

-Again, why is this any business of the state?

-What safeguards would you put in place to ensure that this law would not be abused?

-How do we know that patients and family members are prepared for the very permanent outcome of this decision? How do we know that patients have not been coerced to make this decision?

-Do we really want to go there? Is it not a slippery slope?

-One of the hallmarks of federalism is the ability of states to experiment with laws/policies, without being subject to uniform law-making. Justice Brandeis called the states "the laboratories of democracy." Wouldn't the application of this law to all states undercut the very purpose of our federalist system?

If I think of any more, I'll add.

hoffse · October 2014

Side-note: I think one of the best ways to prepare for a debate is to argue for the side you actually disagree with. One of the best debates I was ever in was in my college poli sci 100 class, against the grandchild of a very well-known politician (who shall remain nameless). The topic was abortion, and I was assigned the pro-life side. The student who was assigned pro-choice did not bother to show up to class that day, so this kid volunteered to argue the pro-choice side spontaneously. He really blew me away - he was quoting stats off the top of his head (which were correct), and he asked me some very hard questions. After class, he told me that he's really very pro-life, but he believes in being able to argue both sides comprehensively. That's how he tests his own convictions.

strickland8052 · October 2014

I think Hoffse provided some great questions. Here are a few more in opposition of the Act (I got the impression that you are arguing in favor of the Act and are more so looking for counter arguments):

If a physician were to assist a patient in taking his/her own life, would that violate the physician's Hippocratic Oath?

Is pain an impairment on judgement? Furthermore, is a person in extreme pain capable of making that kind of decision for themselves?

Should there be a mental assessment to ensure the patient's decision is made for the "right" reasons? What if a patient was depressed/suicidal before the illness or for reasons unrelated to their illness? Should that patient still have this option? Should the option be available to patients who are not terminally ill?

How would this policy impact different socio-economic classes? Would the poor be more likely to choose euthanasia in an effort to limit medical bills for his/her family?

formerlyGDaisy09 · October 2014

@Strickland8052's last question is a good one.

Related, how would this impact insurance? this could potentially save insurance companies TONS of money, what are the implications of that?

This would also save hospitals tons of money, how would they ensure that their potential savings did not impact care given at their facility? (we're seen overuse of money making screening proceedures like colonosopy and mammography driven by hospitals looking out for their margin, there are harms cause by over screening)

I'm sure I can think of more

NMMR: Public speaking class help

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