Jack Kevorkian

Murad Jacob "Jack" Kevorkian (May 26, 1928 – June 3, 2011) was an American pathologist, noted for his public advocacy of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. His mantra, "Dying is not a crime," encapsulated his belief in a terminal patient's right to end their own life. Kevorkian claimed to have assisted at least 130 patients towards this end. Despite the controversy and legal trouble that surrounded him, including a conviction for second-degree murder, Kevorkian's work sparked important discussions about medical ethics and end-of-life care.

Jack Kevorkian National Press Club

Early Life and Career

Born on May 26, 1928, in Pontiac, Michigan, Kevorkian was the son of Armenian immigrants. He graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1952 and specialized in pathology.

Advocacy and Practice

Kevorkian started gaining attention in the late 1980s when he began publicizing his views on euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. He argued that terminal patients should have the right to end their lives with dignity and minimal pain, and that physicians should be allowed to assist in this process.

Kevorkian invented a device he called the "Mercitron," which allowed a patient to self-administer a lethal dose of medication with the push of a button. He also created a device known as the "Thanatron," which used a timer to deliver the lethal dose.

Legal Issues and Conviction

Kevorkian's practices drew substantial controversy and legal attention. His first public assisted suicide, of Alzheimer's patient Janet Adkins, took place in 1990. Over the next decade, Kevorkian claimed to have assisted over 130 patients in ending their lives, which led to his nickname "Dr. Death."

In 1999, Kevorkian was convicted of second-degree murder in the state of Michigan for his role in the death of Thomas Youk, a patient with Lou Gehrig's disease. The conviction was based on a videotape Kevorkian had made of Youk's death, which was later broadcast on the television program 60 Minutes. Kevorkian was sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison and was released in 2007 for good behavior.

Legacy

Despite the controversy surrounding his methods, Kevorkian's work brought physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia into the public consciousness and sparked significant debate about these issues. He played a pivotal role in promoting dialogue and ethical discussion on end-of-life care, patient autonomy, and the role of physicians in assisted dying.

See Also

• Euthanasia
• Physician-assisted suicide
• Medical ethics

References

1. Emanuel EJ, Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD, Urwin JW, Cohen J (2016). "Attitudes and Practices of Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide in the United States, Canada, and Europe". JAMA. 316 (1): 79–90.
2. Kevorkian, Jack (1991). Prescription: Medicide, the Goodness of Planned Death. Prometheus Books.