Jack Kevorkian Is Out Of Prison

Doctor Served 8 Years For Helping Man Commit Suicide; Says He Won't Again

(CBS/AP)  Frail but still feisty, 79-year-old Jack Kevorkian, the man known by some as "Dr. Death," walked to freedom today with a smile.

He said his release was "one of the high points of life" as he walked out with his attorney.

Inmates inside the prison had been milling about all morning for a glimpse of the 79-year-old, while reporters and television vans greeted him on the outside with cameras, microphones and questions.

"60 Minutes" correspondent Mike Wallace will talk to Kevorkian in his first post-prison interview, to be broadcast this Sunday at 7 p.m. EDT. Click here to read a preview.

Kevorkian attorney Mayer Morganroth said his client planned a news conference next week.

This doctor made house calls, with his homemade suicide machine, saying he was on a mission to help people who wanted to end their lives. He admitted to helping along more than 100 people to their deaths, leaving bodies in hotels and at hospitals. And for the better part of a decade he got away with it.

Throughout the 1990s, Kevorkian challenged authorities to make his actions legal — or try to stop him. He burned state orders against him and showed up at court in costume.

Then in late 1998, 22 million Americans saw a video of Kevorkian injecting ALS victim Thomas Youk with a lethal substance on CBS's 60 Minutes. Kevorkian was charged in Youk's death and convicted of second degree murder.

But Youk's family stood by Kevorkian, then … and now.

"Jack Kevorkian was the only person providing people with a choice when they found themselves in a difficult position at the end of life," Terry Youk, Thomas's brother, told CBS News correspondent Cynthia Bowers.

But many felt his unorthodox methods and unusual personality turned off potential supporters.

"He was kind of a wild-eyed fanatic," bioethicist Art Caplan told Bowers. "He got people's attention, but when you look more carefully, it wasn't the kind of person you wanted to lead the movement."

Kevorkian received a 10- to 25-year sentence, but he earned time off his sentence for good behavior.

He is expected to now move to Bloomfield Hills, just outside Detroit, where he will live with friends and resume the artistic and musical hobbies he missed in prison. His lawyer and friends have said he plans to live on a small pension and Social Security while doing some writing and make some speeches.

Kevorkian has promised never to help in another assisted suicide. But Ruth Holmes, who has worked as his legal assistant and handled his correspondence while he was in prison, said his views on the subject haven't changed.

"This should be a matter that is handled as a fundamental human right that is between the patient, the doctor, his family and his God," Holmes said of Kevorkian's beliefs.

In a recent interview, Kevorkian also made it clear that his support for letting people decide when they want to die hasn't wavered.

"It's got to be legalized. That's the point," he told a Detroit radio station in Detroit. "I'll work to have it legalized. But I won't break any laws doing it."

Kevorkian re-enters a society still largely undecided whether physician assisted suicide should be a right or whether it is wrong. Efforts to legalize it in six states (Maine, Vermont, Wisconsin, Washington, Hawaii and Michigan) have failed. The Michigan Catholic Conference says it will oppose any effort to renew the push for assisted suicide in Michigan.

Today only one state — Oregon — allows doctors to offer patients an option, a prescription to end their suffering.

As a condition of parole, Kevorkian promised not to participate in any more deaths. And in an exclusive interview he tells Wallace that if asked to assist a suicide, he would refuse:

"It would be painful for me but I'd have to refuse it, because I gave my word that I won't do it again."

[mikealford3]

Maybe Jack will come to North Carolina so we can get our executions/death penalty cases back on schedule.

[christiansin]

Assisted suicide when carried out in the right way for the right reasons is not immoral and should not be illegal. Kevorkian is a hero ahead of his time.

Keeping Terri Schiavo alive on the other hand was immoral.

The lead for this story was a DISGRACE; "Dr Death"!
SHAME ON CBS for news distortion and news embellishment and cheap sensationalism!

[marcodele]

Have you noticed the so called 'Right to Lifers' are insisting people suffer as much as possible until their last gasp for breath?

Where were they after it was revealed after Terry Shiavo's autopsy that she was in fact completely brain dead and not reacting to anyone or anything. Poof! Right to Lifers disappear,
and Senator Frist, who diagnosed her as vibrant after watching a videotape of her drooling, said nothing.

These people only come out of the church pews when there is an intelligent social issue that requires logical debate. Then they spray snake oil and venom into the issue until politicians like Junior have to roll over for them.

Kevorkian will go down in history as a humanitarian and forward thinker, while the neocon nutjobs wave their little protest signs.

[ioweign]

I was going to tell Jack he could get a job with the Bush Administration but it appears they need no help with self-destruction!

[ilikeyou1]

I do not think that it's right for C.B.S to portray Dr. Jack in that way!!!!!!!!!!! SHAME ON YOU ALL.....some people beleive,mercy killing is a very Hu-MANE way to pass.I would like to know if you have ever had a horrible death? Sounds like everyone already KNOWS!!!!!!!!!( bull) Julie

[bobnjersey]

jack is back ... i see a new reality show on the horizon.

[seawkay]

I agree with Jack Kevorkian. And I think it is an inhumane law that makes Us suffer long after we wish to live.
I myself have a lung desease that will kill me very slowly and there is no cure. And The law is not there to protect the people. But to stuff the pockets of the medical feild. By sucking the money out of our loved ones.
My mother had teminal cancer. And They kept her alive till my father had spent every thing, sold every thing and barrowed every thing he could. And as soon as he was totally broke. She died.
Kevorkian is a hero ahead of his time!

[theeggman369]

We need more Dr.'s like Jack Kervorkian. In my book he is one of USA's greatest heros. I have worked in the medical profession for years, and have personally seen people die of horrific diseases, such as bone cancer, where only intertheical morphine (delivered straight into the spinal fluid) gave the patients a small amount of freedom from the intense pain. They spend their days in a hospital bed, in a dark, quite room, because even the slightest sound can cause severe pain. I would never wish that on anyone. I can't see the justification of the "right to lifers" that these people should have to endure this to the very end. It is a shame that the "right to lifers" feel they must impose their own idea of morality and beliefs on everyone, regardless of other's personal beliefs.

[theeggman369]

I do not think that it's right for C.B.S to portray Dr. Jack in that way!!!!!!!!!!! SHAME ON YOU ALL.....some people beleive,mercy killing is a very Hu-MANE way to pass.I would like to know if you have ever had a horrible death? Sounds like everyone already KNOWS!!!!!!!!!( bull) Julie
Posted by ilikeyou1 at 11:33 AM : Jun 01, 2007


How the hell could anybody having a horrible death answer you. Your ignorance is showing....

[oeangus]

Kevorkian will go down in history as a humanitarian and forward thinker

Posted by marcodele at 11:14 AM : Jun 01, 2007

---

Agree completely.

[oeangus]

Kevorkian will go down in history as a humanitarian and forward thinker

Posted by marcodele at 11:14 AM : Jun 01, 2007

---

Agree completely.

[courtneyo2]

WWJ Newsradio 950 in Detroit has a great page dedicated to this...

http://www.wwj.com/pages/529426.php?

[dollybaird]

Congratulations on your early release, I personally felt you should have never been convicted.

Isn't it funny we are more humane to our animals than we are to human life, we don't want to see our animals suffer so we put them to sleep but we are supposed to watch family members suffer, Dr. Kevorkian you did the right thing!

[tomar0317]

I think the good doctor is right. Mercy deaths are a necessity to help those suffering through painful illnesses and deaths. The laws need to be changed, the right to die by choice is humane.

[bacardistuff]

This man should never have gone to prison. I hope he lives long enough to fully enjoy the "outside."

[pared1]

Welcome back Jack. Did you get that list I sent you for assisted deaths? (reminder)

Al Sharpton
J Jackson
Oprah if you feel frisky
And could you kill all those lame "reality"? shows?

LOL

[arakaczky]

Has anyone tumbled to the fact that Dr. Kevorkian's method might just be more humane than the current method of executing the people on the various Death Rows? Whatever. I do agree with his philosophy and with most of the posters here. Why are we more humane to our animals than to our fellow man?

[pudd54]

He went to prison for helping an ALS patient die. It was just wrong to punish him for that. However, he also helped a fat nurse who's worse diagnosis was fibromyalgia kill herself, which I disagree with. We can't just kill everyone who wants to die or most of us would not make it to 20.

How will we monitor it and what will be the appeal process?

[amw1625]

If you feel strongly about this subject, write your Senators and Congressmen rather than posting here. It's very important that this need not die with Dr. Kevorkian (no pun intended). He can't be the only one taking a stand.

[ralan40]

80% of medicare is paid out to people in the last 2 weeks of their lives.

We now have the ability to let people linger and suffer under circumstances that are not natural.
This isn't just about helping someone kill themselves, this is allowing a person to end their suffering if they are suffering, terminal,and choose to do so.
Anyone who doesn't think some of this isn't already happening secretly needs a wakeup call.

[oeangus]

We can't just kill everyone who wants to die or most of us would not make it to 20.

Posted by pudd54 at 12:26 PM : Jun 01, 2007

---

Ha-ha! :)

Now please%u2026 let me go back to trying to forget those years of my life ever existed!

[sy2502]

Our life and our body is the one and only thing we can call truly ours. Why shouldn't we be allowed to do what we want with it? Why force some who doesn't want to live to stay alive? Counsel them to see if they may change their mind, but if they still want to die, the most charitable thing we can do is a mean to do it in a dignified and painless way.

[pudd54]

Here is my entire post.

He went to prison for helping an ALS patient end his life. It is just wrong to punish him for that. However, he also helped a fat nurse who's worse diagnosis was fibromyalgia kill herself, which I disagree with. We can't just kill everyone who wants to die or most of us would not make it to 20.

How will we monitor these desisions and what will be the appeal process?

[ubikvalis2]

Dr. Kervorkian is a hero.

Insane amounts of money are spent keeping terminally ill patient alive in their last months or weeks of life. Wouldn't that money be better spent on a sick, uninsured child or non-terminal patient who could enjoy decades of full health?

The medical system LOVES these kinds of patients. They require EXTREMELY expensive care and yet if they die, they are terminal so there is no liability, impossible to make a mistake!

Hospitals and doctors make a small fortune, right to lifers get to bring out their "life at any cost" attitudes and the patient greatly suffers.

We need sensible euthanasia laws now!

[jesika4]

superchez1

Enough Said and that's why you're going to hell...

[phoenix1218]

I want to make a little comparison here...It is not legally okay to assist someone ~a terminally ill person who is in a lot of pain~ to end their life in a dignified way even though this terminally ill patient has free will and can choose to do this or not to do this YET it IS okay to put down an animal ~who has no say~ even though they are NOT terminally ill. Does that seem fair to make the terminally ill human suffer needlessly and to put down an innocent animal all because their owner probably cannot afford to keep them anymore or just doesn't want them anymore.

[thgdriver]

The man unfortunately is ahead of his time. The time will come when this is perfectly legal.

We had an elderly couple in town who were very sick, they were in their 80's as I understand, anyhow, they went to a lovers lane that overlooks the city and after he shot her with a shotgun he turned it on himself. Thjey left a not telling of their suffering and decided on this suicide pact.

Now, I ask whats better, the help that Jack offered or the alternative true story above?

[phoenix1218]

TN (Trigeminal Neuralgia) is a pain that's described as 1 of the most acute pain known to mankind. TN produces excruciating, lightning strikes of facial pain, near the nose, lips, eyes & ears. By many, it's called the "suicide disease". The disorder usually affects 1 side of the face, but some patients experience pain at different times on both sides. Something as simple & routine as brushing teeth, applying makeup or a slight breeze can trigger an attack, that results in agony for the individual. TN isn't fatal, but is considered to be the most painful affliction known to medical practice.

[randalds]

We can't just kill everyone who wants to die or most of us would not make it to 20.

How will we monitor these desisions and what will be the appeal process?
Posted by pudd54 at 01:20 PM : Jun 01, 2007

I disagree. The right to die is the ultimate human right and it should apply to anyone who wants it, at any age and in any health condition. If I decide that my quality of life is not what I want it to be, for any reason, then I have a right to end it. It's my life to live or not to, as I see fit.

[phoenix1218]

I think that euthanasia laws do need to be enacted. I think Dr. K should have gotten some form of punishment for taunting the authorities the way he did by recording the asst. suicide of the ALS patient and sending it in. He should have KNOWN something would happen to him at that point. they ahd been trying for YEARS, albeit unsuccesfully, to punish him and he agve them the ammunition to do so.

[phoenix1218]

I think if we are to have assisted suicide laws that there should definately be some guidlines set up and the #1 rules should be that the patient MUST be terminal, #2 should be that they have exhausted ALL measures.

[processor2]

Based on the comments in this section and in the abortion articles,

Liberals are definitely pro-death.

...

[processor2]

Based on the comments in this section and in the abortion articles,

Liberals are definitely pro-death.

...

[rushman71]

superchez1: You prove to us that Jesus is a fairytale and I will prove to you that you are a fairytale! Now, step down and shut up!

[marcodele]

Most of the neocon nutjobs on this site are ignoring the fact that Dr. Kevorkian only attended to people who were terminally ill and
REQUESTED his services.

The abortion debate has no place here.

And if liberals are "pro death" why are all the conservatives encouraging more deaths in Iraq?

[noplace2poop]

"superchez1" says,
"The Catholics in this country are not much better than the Muslims."

"noplace2poop" says,
"Catholics are MUCH WORSE than the Muslims! Muslims believe that they are praying to God....Catholics knowingly pray to statues, images and pictures of Mary & the saints. These pagans also pray to (and for) dead people, such as the saints who lived more than 2000 years ago. Muslims believe SOME of the Bible but Catholics will readily tell you that they don't follow the doctrine of the Bible. They say that their pope and their church government tell them what God wants them to do--not the Bible! They pray to Mary (they also call her the "Queen of Heaven") because they believe God and Jesus will do exactly what Mary asks them to do. People were worshiping the so called "Queen of Heaven" more than 1000 years before the birth of Jesus. Catholics are pagans, not Christians.

[witzlaw]

RandalDS writes,

...The right to die is the ultimate human right and it should apply to anyone who wants it, at any age and in any health condition. If I decide that my quality of life is not what I want it to be, for any reason, then I have a right to end it. It's my life to live or not to, as I see fit.

***

For the person who actually commits suicide, the legality or illegality of the act is moot, because by definition, the person is dead. So the question of "right to die" is a misnomer in that regard. The question is whether someone else, a third party, whether it is a doctor or someone else, has the right to commit the act on behalf of the patient. To me, the idea that such a person can acquire the right is utterly frightening.

Actually, I also disagree with the premise that anyone has the right to die at any age. Are you saying that children should be able to jump out a window when they want to? How about teens? How about older persons without the requisite mental capacity (and have not by that point signed a living will or power of atty.)? --SJR

[noplace2poop]

Ask a Catholic what they're talking about when they speak of the "Immaculate Conception". Most people misunderstand this and they think Catholics believe that it means that Mary gave birth to Jesus as a virgin. But that's not what it means to Catholics! Catholics believe that it has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus. Catholics believe that the "Immaculate Conception" is all about the birth of Mary!? Catholics say that God told them that Mary was preserved by an Immaculate Conception when she was conceived in her mother%u2019s body and was miraculously free from the pollution of sin inherited from Adam. They say that she was in soul and body holy, sinless, stainless and of pure innocence for her entire life!!! They believe that Mary never sinned and that she is not only EQUAL to Jesus but that she actually rules over Jesus. Catholics also believe that God told their pope that Mary was a virgin all of her life, although it's written in history (and in the Bible) that she had three or four other children besides Jesus. Catholics make up the rules as they go along. As bad as Muslims are, Catholics are much worse......MUCH WORSE, indeed!!!"

Everything that I've said here is written down in the Roman Catholic Catechism doctrine. Look it up for yourself! If any Catholic ever disagrees with this doctrine, their church government will declare them to be damned and they will be excommunicated. Either agree with them or YOU'RE OUT!!!

[randalds]

Posted by witzlaw at 02:52 PM : Jun 01, 2007

Well for me the right to suicide is an absolute right, even if it involves assistance from another person and even if the person dying has no medical problems whatsoever. The "at any age" part was perhaps stated a bit too broadly. What I really meant was any person who is legally an adult and I included it because some people think that only the elderly or the infirm are being talked about in this. Obviously if a person is not able to make their own decisions then they should not have that right unless of course they've stated it in a form of living will.

[noplace2poop]

Guess who the so called Christian Crusaders were that went around killing people in the years of 1095 until 1291 if anyone refused to join the so called Catholic church?! They were Catholics!!! They were NOT Christians! These people give Christianity a BAD REPUTATION! Jesus told us to LOVE our enemies and to be good to them!

[sy2502]

I agree with RandalDS, it is your life, you are the one and only person qualified to say whether it should continue or not. In Switzerland, the doctor gives you enough pills to kill yourself and a glass of water, after that it's up to you to take them or not. The idea is that it is a lot more compassionate to let you go to sleep and never wake up than blow your brains off or jump off a bridge.

-----------
Based on the comments in this section and in the abortion articles,
Liberals are definitely pro-death.
...
Posted by processor2 at 02:34 PM : Jun 01, 2007

Your god is the one that invented death, buddy!
Death is part of nature, there is nothing wrong with it, nothing to be afraid of. To me the only life worth living is a meaningful one. I would rather have no life at all than a miserable existence of suffering.

[mike71067]

Have you seen the video of Mike Wallace giving Dr. Death a great big hug upon his release from prison? I guess we all know where Mr. Wallace is on the issue of assisted suicide. I'll bet this will be a real fair and balanced interview.


Here it is:

http://www.wxyz.com/news/story.aspx?content_id=72c0b0ba-5b3e-4d6e-a6aa-3f1664e555b5

[susanhelit]

A little story of suicide:

I had a relative who attempted suicide. She had a disease that caused her immense pain, and the pain meds weren't enough. So, she tried to take an overdose. She was found, in time, and saved. But, due to the overdose damaging her liver, she now isn't given the pain meds she had before! It's all worse, and the medical profession won't let her go, won't let her have enough meds to keep her pain free.


In a truly ethical society, one of two things would have happened. Either she could have had a doctor to help her commit suicide, properly, with the right drugs, after being sure she was making the decision in her right mind, for reasons that were not temporary, or a doctor would have given her enough pain meds to make her life worth living.

Because of religion, fear, whatever, we don't allow option one, and we try to pretend like people will never die, so they still aren't given enough pain meds because we're afraid they'll be 'addicted!'.


We need to let go of this stupid fear of death, this pretense that it will never happen, and treat it as part of life, treated in a realistic way that doesn't pretend like you're never going to die, and doesn't ignore quality of life and the rights of the individual to make their own choices, have their own free will about when and how they die.

[noplace2poop]

In response to the "superchez1" post.
Please don't get me wrong. I love all people (i think)--(i hope)! But I have done extensive research on Catholic dogma and Islam. I don't agree with either one of those group's religious practices but the Catholic's way of worship is particularly offensive to anyone that has even a small amount of biblical expository experience.

[beadazzle]

Ok So if Oregon is the only state that approves of assisted suicide,then does that mean I can move there with my terminally body and have this done?

Who the heck appointed the goverment as ruler over assisted suicides? I sure didn't. I also think religon should not even be in this subject at all. The reason I say that is whether your mormon or baptist or catholic if you believe in your faith and what it says is right or wrong,then that should be your descision to live or die with out everyone bringing religon in to this subject.

[processor2]

Based on the comments in this section and in the abortion articles,

Liberals are definitely pro-death.

...

[sy2502]

Because of religion, fear, whatever, we don't allow option one, and we try to pretend like people will never die.
Posted by SusanHelit at 03:21 PM : Jun 01, 2007

What do you expect, when fear of death and what comes after death is the number one trick used by religion to control people? If you told them death was random, natural and definitive you wouldn't be able to tell them what to do to avoid hell, or to be killed by the wrath of god, or other nice stuff like that.

[susanhelit]

Liberals are pro-choice. As in - my body, my choice. Big difference.

You don't want to die - that's your choice. Just don't impose it on me, when I'm on my deathbed, in torment.

Conservatives are anti-choice - such as, let's say, a conservative governor (G.W. Bush in Texas) who signed a bill allowing your life support to be pulled against your family's wishes.

[bobgee_1999]

"Based on the comments in this section and in the abortion articles,Liberals are definitely pro-death." -Posted by processor2

Based on comments about the death penalty, gun laws and the war in Iraq, Conservatives are definitely pro-death.