Dr Death, Dead At 83

23 Jun 2011: I have discussed assisted suicide in the past, and I personally feel that it should be legalized. Who wants to die a long painful death? Don’t human beings suffer enough in life? The law says we must suffer in death too.

Dr Jack Kevorkian, also known as ‘Dr Death’ was someone who was a firm believer in assisted suicide, having admitted to assisting 130 of his terminally ill patients to take their last breath before nature intended.

Dr Kevorkian graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1952. He first began advertising for ‘death counselling’ for terminally ill patients. Then in 1990, he assisted his first terminally ill patient, a 54 year old woman who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Because of his first assisted suicide, the State of Michigan revoked his medical licence in 1991, despite this, Dr Death still continued on euthanizing his patients. And was subsequently charged with second degree murder and began a 10 – 25 year sentence in prison in 1999.

Kevorkian served 8 years of his term and was released on parole in 2007 after claims that he himself was terminally ill with hepatitis C. He was released on the terms that he did not assist anyone in suicide, or treat any patients who had a disability or were over the age of 62.

Kevorkian stuck to his agreement and only lobbied to legalise assisted suicide and euthanasia in the US. It is legal in only three US states.

Claims were made against Kevorkian during his murder trial, that 60% of his patients weren’t actually terminal. During some of their autopsies, no illness was found.

Earlier this month on the 3rd June, Dr Kevorkian passed away in hospital in Michigan. He was admitted with complications from Hepatitis C and pneumonia. He died a painless death according to his attorney.

Ned McGrath, who is a member of the Archdiocese of Detroit stated: "It is both ironic and tragic that Kevorkian himself was afforded a dignified, natural death in a hospital, something he denied to those who came to him in desperation, only to be poisoned and have their bodies left in places such as vans and motel rooms".

I highly disagree that dying in a hospital bed is ‘dignified’. I wonder if Mr McGrath has ever watched a loved one suffer from a debilitating illness until they painfully pass on. I doubt it. I hope that one day euthanasia will be legalized. We deem it cruel to watch a pet suffer from illness or injury, and choose to put them to sleep, when they have no voice to express what they want. Yet, we force family members to ‘hold on’ through horrific pain, losing all dignity ect for our own selfish reasons.

Dr Death, Dead At 83


Dr Death, Dead At 83