June 3, 2004EuthanasiaIn "A Crime Of compassion", Barbara Huttmann writes about the moving story of an expert on the euthanasia. She tried to convince the readers with taking the law into her own hand as nurse. I disagree with Barbara, but I can not ignore that she did well in her essay to persuade the readers. Her description is very detailed and very effective.Huttmann begins the essay by describing how she encounters hostile reaction from the public because of what she has done. She explains how negative the expressions by quoting audience members of the Phil Donahue show "Murder," a man shouted. "God help patients who get you for a nurs ...view middle of the document...
In addition, she explains how Mac suffers from adverse effect of therapy- vomiting, diarrhea, rash, I.V. site inflammation, and pain. Eventually the pain becomes intolerable and narcotics won't do any good. Every time, he begged for God to let him die.Barbara, as nurse, with so much love relived him of his sever pain and let him pass way because she did not press the bottom to let the "code blue" resuscitate him.In Barbara's essay, every event describes with so much depth: and she creates very beautiful images. Huttmann attempts to enlist sympathy for Mac's situation and for hers by using specific details that appeal to the readers' emotion. "A Crime of Compassion" is definitely a descriptive essay. However, the author did not deal with opposing views. Her refutation is not effective.The essay is very powerful, although I disagree with the author. Is euthanasia a compassionate act or an excuse for murder? In my opinion, euthanasia, or mercy killing, presents some very difficult and painful dilemmas for doctors, patients, and family members. Euthanasia is a very difficult problem facing our society today. I know that thousands of young people are in comas because of accidents, and old people are terminally ill because of incurable diseases. They are all kept alive in artificial ways. They have no chance to recover completely, but I support the American legal system about not allow doctors or nurses to end any patient's life. The question is who has the right? I believe that God alone has the right to terminate a life.