Jack Kevorkian Assisted Suicide Analysis

The movie You Don’t Know Jack is about the work and life of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, an advocate for physician-assisted suicide. He fought to legalize euthanasia for patients suffering from terminal illnesses and debilitating pain. Although I don’t support the way Kevorkian went about choosing those he helped, I do support physician-assisted suicide fully, as well as euthanasia, when backed by laws that ensure the process isn’t abused. With a second opinion and an evaluation proving the patient is mentally capable of making and understanding the choice to end his own life, patients should have the right to make this choice.

The "End" In 1990, Jack Kevorkian assisted in the death of Janet Adkins. Adkins was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. After her diagnosis, she started searching for someone to help her end her life before the Alzheimer's took on its full effect. Adkins contacted Jack Kevorkian for his assistance. Jack Kevorkian did his residency at the University of Michigan where he became interested by death and the act of dying (Biography). After many experiments and writing articles, he created the "suicide machine". This machine consisted of three bottles: saline, a painkiller and a fatal dose of potassium chloride. After his contact with Adkins, Kevorkian agreed to assist with ending her life. “They met in a public park in Michigan where Kevorkian put an IV into

“A serial mercy killer” (The Right To Die, 80). This is what some would define what Kevorkian did. Kevorkian, however does not feel this way. He performs his acts for the greater good in his eyes. However, he never hesitated to try any other treatments that could result in the

The infamous story of Dr. Jack Kevorkian is a unique one. Professor Hengameh M. Hosseini

Assisted Suicide by Jordan Froce A Project Presented to Professor Demosthenes Long in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for CRJ 150: Introduction to Criminal Justice Pace University Dyson College of Arts and Sciences February 3, 2012 Table of Contents Introduction……….................................................................................... 3 Background…………………………..……………………...................... 3 Literature Review……………………………….……………………….. 5 Conclusion………………………………………….……......................... 7 References........………………………………………….…..................... 9 Introduction Imagine being in A lot of hospitals would be against it. Due to the fact that they rely on those patients and the income they receive from them. Some people argue that if physician assisted suicides were legalized that a lot of people would be tempted and would most like to take that option. As a sort of easy way out of their situation. This in turn would decrease the hospitals income, their equipment and possibly diminish their staff. Once all that has happened the quality of healthcare will lower as well. Due to outdated equipment and medicine, not enough staff to cover everybody. Also hospital would start to greatly rely on more government funds, fundraisers and would more than likely have to increase the prices for treatments. Which as of today, many people can barely afford without insurance. Physicians could suffer as well through pay cuts. Also after helping a patient with a suicide the physician could start to feel great amounts of guilt. Which would affect his work and family life. The patients family as well might start giving the physician grief and trouble. Just for doing his or her job.

Brittany Maynard stated in an article she wrote on CNN, “Having this choice at the end of my life has become incredibly important. It has given me a sense of peace during a tumultuous time that otherwise would be dominated by fear, uncertainty and pain (Maynard, Brittany).” Since Brittany Maynard had gotten her prescription of euthanasia knowing that she could use it at any point she felt a sense of calm at the end of her life and felt that she could now die with dignity. The rest of her life didn’t have to be painful. Since she did have a terminal brain disease she had spent most of the last year of her life in tremendous pain, and once Brittany is refused treatment, she felt relieved. In contrast to Brittany’s story is the story of a woman named Pam Parlanti. This woman had unendurable arthritis pain near the end of her life and could barely get out of bed. Although she requested multiple times to die, her body held on for 11 days after her request and she died angry that others should have control over how she wanted to die (Parlanti, Steve). The story of Mrs. Parlanti proves that without the right to have voluntary doctor assisted suicide people will be forced to suffer for the remainder of their life even though the quality of their life is immensely poor. Family members watch their loved ones deteriorate this

Dr. Jack Kervorkian Dr. Jack Kervorkian was a well-known medical pathologist who willfully helped people who were ill, end their lives. Most of his cases took place in the 1990’s which started drama all across the nation concerning assisted suicide. He quickly rose to becoming an exemplar in regards to being a euthanasia proponent and an American pathologist. His main focus was to assist ill people end their lives peacefully and without any pain if they were willing to. This caused a lot of contrary across the nation for many years and is still questioned today.

No, terminal illness should not be a killer. For starters, a terminal illness is an illness from which the patient is not expected to recover even with treatment, as the illness continues, the result is death. In 6 of the 50 United States of America, they have an option for

Dr. Jack Kevorkian more commonly known as Dr. Death is greatly known for his opinion that euthanasia should be legalized and his work with patients seeking help. He was very important in showing euthanasia and voicing his opinion on the subject so the public could not ignore the importance of the matter. Dr. Kevorkian was said to have been involved with 130 suicides by patients who wanted to end their own lives (Nicol and Wylie 17). He had two machines he used to help the patients, one an injection and the other a mask, however both machines were operated by the patient and although Dr. Kevorkian was taken to court many times for these he was not convicted because the patient was in control. He was very careful as to not actually commit the act himself until he was contacted by Thomas Youk, a young with Lou Gheric’s disease; Lou Gheric’s disease is when the muscle stop working and eventually the patient chokes to death. Tom’s condition prevented him from actually operating the machines and therefore Dr. Kevorkian decided that he would operate the machine himself because he cared greatly about all his patients and could not let Tom live in his constant fear (Nicol and Wylie 11). Dr. Kevorkian taped Tom’s wishes and then himself hooking up the machine and pushing the button to inject the drugs. He then proceed to

A major problem that is facing our society today is the legalization of assisted suicide or as it is also known, euthanasia. Euthanasia is the act of putting a person to death painlessly, or allowing a person to die by withholding medical treatment in cases of incurable diseases. Assisted suicide

“How to Die in Oregon” is a powerful and moving documentary that really opened my eyes to what assisted suicide is and allowed me to develop opinions and feelings on the topic. Before watching the documentary I didn’t know exactly how assisted suicide worked, but I supported it. I believed it should be in a person’s control and their own decision in certain circumstances to choose life or death for themselves. After watching the documentary, my opinion still holds strong, except I now take it more seriously. Obviously life versus death is a very serious matter, and while I still believe it should be the person’s decision, the choice one person makes can leave devastation in their wake. Their families are left broken and grieving. Losing a loved

Another big advocate for the legal right to die with dignity is Jack Kevorkian also known as ‘doctor death’, he created a sort of stigma for physician assisted death. He was an outspoken figure that brought to the forefront a serious arising problem that hadn’t been discussed in such an open setting. Just for a little basis on his background and credentials, he graduated from Michigan University medical school with a specialty in pathology. In 1956, four years after graduating, he published his first article “The Fundus Oculi and the Determination of Death.” This article discussed his practice of photographing the eyes of patient’s before they died, this earned him his nickname ‘Doctor Death.’ With his unorthodox practices he changed many laws in the Michigan Legislature. He was claimed to have assisted in more than 130 terminally ill patients suicides through 1990 to 1998. He served eight years for second-degree murder after injecting a patient with a lethal does himself.

Euthanasia - Dr. Jack Kevorkian Is euthanasia murder or is it actually saving someone from extra pain and suffering? This is just one of the questions that are causing so much debate in our society today. Should euthanasia be illegal?

Dr. Jack Kevorkian was charged with second-degree murder and served an eight year prison sentence. (Fridstein. 1). This accomplished physician graduated from the University of Michigan with an impressively high IQ. He was a writer, inventor, movie producer and classical composer. (Kevorkian). Why would a man so intelligent and successful end up in jail for murder? Well believe or not he purposely challenged the legal system in a one man crusade to ignite a national discussion on the subjects of assisted suicide, Euthanasia and one’s constitutional right to choose. Euthanasia is a medical procedure that involves a person being induced with a soothing, relaxing medicine that allows them a peaceful passing. Dr. Kevorkian’s attorney, Geoffrey Fieger, summed it up best when he said, "We’re just talking about the right not of children and not of mentally incompetent people but the right of mentally competent adults to make decisions about their own bodies as to how much suffering they have to undergo.” (Kevorkian). Euthanasia is not for people experiencing temporary illness or unhappiness. It’s for people who are imprisoned by their own unbearable physical pain for the rest of their lives with no way out. Is it fair to not give those people a choice? Is it fair to make them slowly deteriorate while losing their dignity? I think not. That is why I support euthanasia being legalized, “Dying is not a crime.” (Fridstein. 1).

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