In Chapter One of Writing Arguments there is an image of an elderly man on page seven. He seems to be getting treated with an array of tubes going into his body, a big tube going into his mouth and machines on either side of him monitoring his progress. There seems to be no nurses around him, just his wife casually watching as Jack Kevorkian is projected on the screen announcing that he was released from jail while she says “physician-assisted suicide is just not natural”. This image is obviously strongly opposing the way elders are taken care of in nursing homes. Also, with the announcement of Kevorkian being released from jail it shows not much is being changed to fix the conditions.
The author of this image is using Pathos by showing specific details like the elderly man not being payed any attention to, and the announcement of Kevorkian’s release. This image makes a great impact on the viewer because it is the reality of the situation. People seem too relaxed about the treatment of the elderly, even the body language of the woman sitting next to the hospital bed seems to relaxed for the condition the man being treated is in. She does seem to be saying “physician-assisted suicide is just not natural”, however she seems to be disregarding a man suffering right by her side.
In the reading “What Will Future Generations Condemn For Us” the author points out how elderly today can live independently but are cut-off from their families. Even though we live in such a modern society with the amenities to make treatments easier and more efficient, it seems todays generations do not want to devote the time to their elders.
In personal experience my grandmothers husband was in a nursing home for 2 years before passing away. She struggled everyday with nurses and doctors trying to get the correct treatment for him, and getting them to make her husband a priority. Luckily for her, for a short period of time she could afford to have him treated in her own home. This way she knew he was safe and she could keep an eye on him and the nurse treating him at all times. This is not always the case, not everyone can afford to treat their loved ones in the comfort of their own home. Something must be changed in the system, families must pay more attention and physicians must realize the importance of their jobs and keeping people alive.
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