Kevorkian: Assisted Suicide "Discussed to Death"

Jack Kevorkian says assisted suicide has been "discussed to death."

The assisted suicide advocate known as "Dr. Death" said Thursday the HBO biographical movie, "You Don't Know Jack," is unlikely to inspire much action, but that he's delighted and honored by the film about his crusade.

The 82-year-old from Michigan claims he attended more than 130 deaths before being convicted of second-degree murder in 1999. He told The Associated Press the threat of returning to prison keeps him from assisting in any more suicides.

He says he continues to provide "moral courage" to the cause.

Kevorkian plans to attend a reception and screening of the film Thursday evening at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The film debuts Saturday and features Al Pacino as Kevorkian.

Katie Couric interviewed Pacino last week on CBS' "60 Minutes".

"What I did with Jack Kevorkian is I worked. I went into my little bunker by the house. A lot of acting is private time," Pacino told Couric. "I'm watching the pieces. I'm reading the script. I'm listening to the sound of him. It's like work."

Full Segment: Al Pacino
Web Extra: Al Pacino & Katie Couric
Web Extra: Al Pacino & "Pretty Woman"
Web Extra: Al Pacino, "Scarface" & Overacting
Web Extra: The Night Al Pacino Stopped By
Photos: Al Pacino

In 1998, Dr. Kevorkian went on "60 Minutes" with Mike Wallace and showed a tape of himself giving a lethal injection to a patient. In the movie, across from Mike Wallace sits Al Pacino as Jack Kevorkian.

"It gave me an opportunity to do something I haven't done before, I think that's what is interesting. In all my roles, I don't think there's anyone like that," Pacino explained.

Watch an excerpt of Mike Wallace's 1998 interview with Dr. Jack Kevorkian:


Watch CBS News Videos Online

[jewels62883]

I can only hope that if I ever am unlucky enough to have a terminal disease, that there is a Dr. Kervorkian to assist me in ending my life. I watched by grandma pass away from a terminal disease and I must say that I never want to go through that...I support you Dr. Kervorkian.

[mitch0927]

August 21st, 2008 I watched my sister Trudi pass away from complications caused by cancer. Hospice was there, giving her larger and larger amounts of morphine. When I saw her take her last breath it about killed me too. The pain and suffering she had to go through the last minutes of her life was terrible. When her body was taken away, Hospice asked me what was wrong. I told them they were no different than Kervorkian. Of course they were insulted, but I explained to them what was the difference in them killing her with an overdose of morphine and what he did. They didn't have an answer. To this day, I feel like a lot of other people.

[dontknowitall]

Until you've watched a terminally ill family member waste away to nothing, will you appreciate death with dignity. Dr Kevorkian you have my sympathy for how you have been treated by our legal system as well as nitwits the likes of RCC_Soldaten.

[RCC_Soldaten]

Satan's disciple.

[ThomasStAwesome]

I'm sorry you think your religion has the right to dictate how much suffering people have to go through before they die.

[mitch0927]

Who are you to judge a person?