Dying 'Dr. Death' Has Second Thoughts About Assisting Suicides

ABC News ^ | May 26, 2006 | LARA SETRAKIAN

[Abathar]

Today, on his 78th birthday, Jack Kevorkian, the man known as "Dr. Death," is slowly dying in prison.

And, according to his lawyer, Kevorkian seems to have second thoughts about helping people die.

For years, Kevorkian was the center of a national debate around the highly controversial questions surrounding physician-assisted suicide or "mercy killing:" Do the terminally ill have the right to choose when and how they die? Do doctors have the ability, even an obligation, to help them die as they choose?

Now, as he sits in jail, Kevorkian may have had a change of heart — not about his dedication to the "death with dignity" movement, but on how he went about promoting it.

Specifically, he questions the more than 100 suicides he said he assisted throughout the 1990s. One assisted suicide — the death of Lou Gehrig's disease patient Thomas Youk, which was taped and broadcast on "60 Minutes" in 1998 — earned him a prison sentence of 15 years to 20 years for second degree murder.

"He did what he did, and it brought it to public awareness [of physician-assisted suicide]," said Kevorkian's attorney, Mayer Morganroth. "He now realizes that having performed it when it was against the law, wasn't the, probably, appropriate way to go about it. … What he should have done was work towards its legalization verbally. … Pursuing that cause, and not performing it because it still was against the law."

'He Gets Depressed at Times'

Less than a week ago, Morganroth publicly stated that doctors had told Kevorkian he had less than a year to live.

Kevorkian suffers from Hepatitis C, which he contracted during service in Vietnam. Morganroth said Kevorkian's liver enzyme levels were three to four times above normal — a clear signal his liver was failing.

[evets]

[Zeppelin]

"He now realizes that having performed it when it was against the law, wasn't the, probably, appropriate way to go about it. … What he should have done was work towards its legalization verbally. … Pursuing that cause, and not performing it because it still was against the law."

So I started reading it thinking he'd had a change of heart. He's not sorry. He's just sorry that he got caught.

[JohnLongIsland]

GOD is waiting for you you pos.

[sageb1]

From the article: "Stands by His Position, but Wouldn't Do it Again

"While Kevorkian stands firmly by the cause of physician-assisted suicide, his lawyer said he would promote the movement by speaking out or writing, not by helping out in any more suicides.

"At this point, he would never perform it again," Morganroth said. "But he certainly would work towards getting it legalized wherever possible."

[2banana]

Specifically, his lawyer suggests, he questions the more than 100 suicides he said he assisted throughout the 1990s. One assisted suicide — the death of Lou Gehrig's disease patient Thomas Youk, which was taped and broadcast on "60 Minutes" in 1998 — earned him a prison sentence of 15 years to 20 years for second degree murder.

Amazing what people will do for their 15 minutes of fame...

[Mazda3Fan]

That's what I got from the article as well.

[sageb1]

"So I started reading it thinking he'd had a change of heart. He's not sorry. He's just sorry that he got caught."

Exactly.

[jazusamo]

Right on!

[Old_Mil]

Dear Jack,

Do try and plan a vacation in Siberia before you go. I hear hell is hot.

[Mazda3Fan]

I thought that doctors took an oath and part of that oath states, "First, do no harm".

[discostu]

So basically what it boils down to is he's figured out why the euthanasia movement hates him.

[Gay State Conservative]

If the Angel of Death wasn't a militant atheist,I'd encourage him to use the time he has left to make peace with his Creator.

Message to Jack: you'd better hope that you guessed correctly regarding the existence of God and judgment in some "after-life",'cause if you guessed wrong,you're gonna have a serious problem in the not-too-distant future.

[mandingo republican]

This creep was in Vietnam? He got HEP C in Vietnam! I wonder if he was a doctor there and if he put any of our boys to death there. Vietnam must of been a joy for him around all that death and dying. I shudder to think of his time in Vietnam!!!

[Siena Dreaming]

One assisted suicide — the death of Lou Gehrig's disease patient Thomas Youk, which was taped and broadcast on "60 Minutes" in 1998

60 minutes...herald of all sorts of morbidity over the years.

Thank God Dan Rather got booted, thanks to FR.

[onedoug]

...the man known as "Dr. Death," is slowly dying in prison.

So?

[Fido969]

Kevorkian seems to have second thoughts about helping people die.

DOOHH!

[FormerACLUmember]

Scr*w you Kevorkian, and the rest of your democrat party death cult. You murdered over 100 people, some of whom had no real physical illness, were not at all terminal or in pain, but suffering mental delusions.

Do me a favor and rot. Too bad your evil mega-crook shyster and leading Michegan democrat Geoffrey Fieger is not yet behind bars with you.

[Antoninus]

He's terminally ill? Sorry to hear that.

I'll pray for him.

[Canedawg]

It's always a problem when some editor chooses a title that is inconsistent with what the author wrote.

[jazusamo]

Yeah, this guy is sick in the head. You can bet he didn't acquire his death outlook in his later years in life.

[mandingo republican]

I remember he put a proposal to the Pentagon for soldiers to be given a blood transfusion kit in case they where wounded in battle they would go up to the dead and dying on the battle field and just take their blood to stay alive! Goulish! The government turned him down.

[Zeppelin]

you know, the Democrats' slogan should be... (read my tagline, brand new, spurred by your post!)

[Zeppelin]

you know, the Democrats' slogan should be... (read my tagline, brand new, spurred by your post!)

[MichiganMan]

So you mean sticking out you're tongue and going "Naa-na-na-na-na, can't catch me!" to the legal system may not have been an intelligent strategy??

Facinating.

[TruthSetsUFree]

I notice he isn't asking for assisted suicide for himself.

Much as I dislike what he did during his lifetime, I do pray that he makes things right with his Maker before going to meet Him and makes things right with the society he has wronged as well. A recanting of his position would be welcome and hopefully help to restrain some of the evil he's promoted.

[FormerACLUmember]

Mors Vincet Omnia! (Death conquers all!): The permanet motto and platform of the evil 'rats and every crooked managed care HMO in America!

[Polyxene]

He did unto others when they were dying -- will he do it unto himself? I doubt it.

[redhead]

"Mors Vincet Omnia! (Death conquers all!): The permanet motto and platform of the evil 'rats and every crooked managed care HMO in America!"

Yep. But still sad to see such a noble mule used to illustrate the party of DEATH. Their symbol should be a parsnip, or a Brussels sprout, or something REEEEELY nasty...

[ShandaLear]

I have always held that Kevorkian was a serial killer who thought he had found the perfect cover.

[Zeppelin]

good theory. i could see that

[orionblamblam]

> Message to Jack: you'd better hope that you guessed correctly regarding the existence of God and judgment in some "after-life",'cause if you guessed wrong,you're gonna have a serious problem in the not-too-distant future.


Same message to everyone everywhere. Have you accepted Crom yet? Or will you spend eternity in Hell?

[polymuser]

Jack the Crypt Keeper

[Little Ray]

IIRC, several of his victims were not terminally ill.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

LOLOLOLOLOLOL

[AlaskaErik]

"So I started reading it thinking he'd had a change of heart. He's not sorry. He's just sorry that he got caught."

No, he's sorry he didn't go about it in a more productive manner.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

GOD is waiting for you you pos

Someone is waiting for him, but I doubt it's God...

[AlaskaErik]

This creep was in Vietnam? He got HEP C in Vietnam! I wonder if he was a doctor there and if he put any of our boys to death there. Vietnam must of been a joy for him around all that death and dying. I shudder to think of his time in Vietnam!!!

There's a difference between saving the lives of young warriors who want to live and helping the terminally ill end their suffering at their request.

[NavyCanDo]

Getting a little close to the Great White Thrown Judgement for him? Smelling Smoke?

[Abathar]

"So I started reading it thinking he'd had a change of heart. He's not sorry. He's just sorry that he got caught. "

No, he just thought that enough people thought the way he did that he would get acquitted in a jury trial, that and the fact the guy had to push the button himself to get the gas. Jeffery Figer was his attorney back then, they should have through him in the cell next to him as far as I am concerned.

[colorado tanker]

He got Hep C in Vietnam? Was he doing drugs?

[Abathar]

That's the usual way, or from too many visits to a local whore house.

[reillygirl246]

Amazing what people will do for their 15 minutes of fame...



Amazing how sitting in a prison cell for all those years will make you see the error of you ways. I wonder had he not been sentenced to prison would he regret his decisions. I have to think probably not.

[Socratic]

I have always held that Kevorkian was a serial killer who thought he had found the perfect cover.

He certainly got his jollies from it. I remember his grinning, defiant face on TV, along with his accomplice lawyer - whose name escapes me.

[BenLurkin]

Sounds as though he is suffering.

Maybe he can get a helping hand . . . .

[proud_2_B_texasgal]

He has less than a year to live?? Can't we take him to the Dr. or something???

[Abathar]

Geoffery Fieger, leading Dem lawyer in Michigan.

[Halls]

yep and some were just depressed. All they needed was some counseling and a good Pyschiatrist, but nope Dr. Death has the cure! It is sad he is just realizing that his way was not the way to go, but too little too late.

[chesley]

In other words, he doesn't want to pay the consequences of his freely chosen actions.

I have no pity for this monster. I will pray that he repent in time, but I doubt that it will happen.

[chesley]

Isn't Crom a made-up god? By R. E. Howard? 'Course there are lots of pagan mythologies that I'm not familiar with. I