Dr. Death Released from Prison Today

[Innari]

Jack Kevorkian Released From Prison, Says He Will Work to Have Assisted Suicide Legalized

COLDWATER, Mich. — Jack Kevorkian, the retired pathologist dubbed "Dr. Death" after claiming he had participated in at least 130 assisted suicides, left prison after eight years Friday still believing people have the right to die.

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.

"You think I'm going to obey the law? You're crazy," he said in 1998 shortly before he was accused — and then convicted — of murder after injecting lethal drugs into Thomas Youk, 52, an Oakland County man suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease.

That conviction earned Kevorkian a 10- to 25-year sentence for second degree murder, but he earned time off his sentence for good behavior.

On Friday, the 79-year-old, wearing a blue sweater, walked out of the Lakeland Correctional Facility, accompanied by his attorney, Mayer Morganroth.

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 while 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, although he said he doesn't expect them all to be on euthanasia or assisted suicide.

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.

Wee. I saw this and was confused. Wasn't he supposed to be in jail for like 20 years or something? But no...yet another "Time off for good behavior" dude...*le sigh*

[Chaimera]

I think this guy was wrongly imprisoned. He was helping people that made the choice for themselves to end the suffering they were going through. At least from what i remember of the case.

[Fishi3]

I tend to agree that assisting someone who is dying to choose to die with dignity isn't murder.

My belief is that the AMA wanted him put out of business as making people survive is a profitable business. Alowing people to die when they choose to rather than when a doctor is ready to go doesn't bankrupt the family and cause years of misery after the death as the survivors struggle to pay the medical bills. After all you only exist so that doctors can rape you of your life savings and house and property.

Fucking Greed. It's the basis of everything hateful in our society.

[defeKt]

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[Shigy]

I know I am being a bit picky but give LUST some credit...

[defeKt]

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[Fishi3]

Personally saying that the species can't overcome it's dominante fault when the reality is that the species doesn't even want to to try to overcome it is inacurate. There are many people who don't subscribe to greed as a way of life. Then there are those willing to get thosands of others killed to add another dollar to their name.

Greed can be overcome. Theres just no desire to try to do so. Apathy being humanities comfort state.

[Jugsmalone]

I totally agree with assisted suicide. I watched my grandmother die in a nursing home she was poked and prodded and medicated to the point of it being in humane, she was in pain every day and the pain was caused not by her illness but by the treatments the doctors were doing on her, after a few years of this she did pass away which by that time was a blessing . I watched my mom suffer from cancer this passed year, unable to eat when she was hungry for food because she could not swallow it and forced to drink liquids to keep up what little strength she had , we spoke often before her death as she was in my care to avoid her being put in a nursing home she told me how she wanted things when she died ( she wanted no funeral no viewing, and wanted to be cremated) these were her wishes, The Kimo treatments made her sicker and sicker and these treatments I am convinced are what finally killed her , I do not believe it was the cancer, she had told me tho she was ready to die, she felt as if her life was over already as she could do nothing but lie in bed or sit and watch TV she could do very little for herself and needed help to even dress, this to her was no longer a life she wished to live, Fortunately she did die before the pain over whelmed her , I now face many medical problems and am in constant daily pain and tho I love my children and grandchildren and enjoy AO there is little else for me to live for, I would welcome assisted suicide before the pain gets any worse, and I must go on medication that dopes me up, so yes yes I agree with the doctor of death.