"EUTHANASIA"

Rhetorical Analysis of "EUTHANASIA"

Erick Daniel Rico Barraza
University of Texas at El Paso

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In the YouTube video "Euthanasia," it is clear that the creator "K Ditinger," takes a
stance with the ones who favor "Euthanasia." The chronology of this video begins with facts
about this issue, it then goes on to the arguments from both sides and finally describes a real-life
situation where euthanasia was involved. The purpose of this video was to raise awareness and
hopefully change people's mind in favor of this procedure. Hence, this paper's objective is to
analyze the audience, purpose, and the rhetorical appeals: ethos, pathos and logos, for the better
understanding of this video.
The YouTube video "Euthanasia" has the goal to reach out to those who have the ability
and means of watching a video on YouTube, people who know how to read and those who agree
that euthanasia should never be legalized, although people who are already in favor may do so as
well. From the beginning of this video, it is obvious that it is targeting an audience who believes
in making everything possible to sustain a life no matter what the situation may be. Throughout
"Euthanasia" there are several images of situations where it is easy to feel the pain that both the
patient and the families are going through, and also shows some statistics that reveal where most
people stand when it comes to this issue: "75% of Americans support it" ("K Dintinger," 2007).
So this video is accurately aimed towards an audience who refuse to see euthanasia as the right
thing to do and, of course, those who are knowledgeable enough to watch a video on YouTube.
The purpose of this video is to reach into the hearts and minds of the audience to change
their stance and support euthanasia. This video has several images, statistics and facts that help
make the argument for euthanasia stronger, it is meant to inform and persuade with its content so
the audience feels limited to contradict or rebut. The people watching this video will be able to
read several statements, graphics and also listen to music that sets the mood for a sad and
compelling moment. In the beginning, the reading part of the video consists of only facts and

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statistics, it then goes on to the arguments for and against euthanasia, and afterwards it goes on to
a case where a family made the decision for "nonvoluntary euthanasia" and clearly states that
because of this decision the family was able to cope with grief in a much better way since their
loved one was an organ donor and donated his liver and saved another woman's life "The things
that came out of his death overwhelmed his family and friends with hope and happiness while
dealing with the loss of a friend, son, and brother" ("K Dintinger," 2007). In this manner, the
purpose of this video is to persuade watchers into not being against euthanasia.
On regards to the credibility of this video, although "Euthanasia" doesn't have any contact
information, it shows strong supporting details to their arguments as well as statistics, hence a
good ethos. The graphs and the statistics shown in the beginning demonstrates that the author's
stance is not in the minority group, but rather in the majority, giving him more credit for arguing
for euthanasia. At the end of the video there is a small paragraph on top containing the different
sources where the author got the information from and thus showing an unbiased view of the
issue. Although this video is not directly connected to a well known organization or someone
with prestige, the author does have a personal experience involving euthanasia, whereas most
people who give their opinion about the issue have never had an involvement in such matter ("K
Dintinger," 2007). This video also has no contact information, there are no ways on contacting
the author other than their channel on YouTube, but the purpose of it is not so the author can be
contacted, but only to persuade its viewers. Another reason for strong ethos in this video is for
the fact that the author used a real life case, showing the story about the patient, and what the
family decided to do, not her personal experience. In this part of the video, it shows pictures of
the boy when he's healthy and happy and texts of what had happened with an unbiased stance
and simply stating the facts. "Euthanasia" also gives arguments and claims on this issue, making

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it clear what both sides have to say about it, not only the side which favors the author's stance.
Therefore, this video has a good ethos because of the good supporting details, source of
information and unbiased point of view.
In continuation, "Euthanasia" has a good amount of pathos, the ability to reach out to
someone through their feelings and emotions. These emotions are trying to make the audience
feel sorry and if there were no other options. In this video, the audience's feelings are targeted
with tunes that might make someone feel emotional, tunes that try to set a calm but emotional
mood. In addition, images of dying patients, and people crying over their loved ones are seen in
this video, images that help the audience feel sorry for the lives of patients who are better off
with euthanasia. The author is trying to show that euthanasia is the better way of dealing with
these patients, that without it people are going to continue suffering and having a far less quality
of life. In one of the arguments for Euthanasia, K Dintinger argues that for the family of patient
in coma, to know their loved one wouldn't be able to live their life or even speak, it is unbearable
(2007). And the last stand for an emotional appeal is the story at the end, and how the outcome
of good decision-making helped the family cope with the pain of losing someone; with happiness
and relief that through their loved one's death, another life was being saved, hence a far more
convenient way of dealing with this type of situations. Because of the reasons stated above, this
video is trying to make people feel guilty, but especially sorry for not standing in the right side of
the issue.
Meanwhile, the logic behind "Euthanasia" is well supported. The graphs, statistics and
real-life case gives the video a strong logos demonstrating the facts about euthanasia. Although
the controversy over euthanasia is outstanding, the percentage of people in favor are far greater,
with these being a majority no religion affiliated and with more education ("K Dintinger," 2007).

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One of these graphics' meaning is that when there is more affiliation with a religion and less
years of education, there will exist a great number of people opposing, but when religion
becomes less important, and there are more years of education in someone's life, the likeliness of
opposing euthanasia is far less visible. Another point the video makes towards logic is in one of
the arguments in favor; "No law or medical ethics requires everything to be done to keep a
person alive" ("K Dintinger," 2007). This quote is trying to say that the doctors are not obligated
to save someone's life, it is not written that a doctor cannot assist in the dying of a patient,
although it is their duty to do so. And finally, the story about Eddie, a boy with head trauma who
was destined to be in life support for the rest of his life, and his family decided to taking him off
life support for the better of him and them, also supports good logos because it is an example
where good rose from following this procedure. The author showed evidence and something the
viewers might actually believe in and help change their minds, consequently this video shows
good logos.
To conclude, "Euthanasia" was created from a personal grief, to expose the real side of
euthanasia and make an effort to change the audience's point of view towards this issue through
facts, statistics, tunes and images. "Euthanasia" served its purpose of giving strong support to the
other side of the issue, the one that the minority side resists to sympathize with and hold their
position to not make it legal. This objective can be distinctly exposed through an analysis of the
video's intended audience, purpose and rhetorical appeals.

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K Ditinger (2007, January 14). Euthanasia [Video file]

-Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVS8BtdphNA