Reflections

Dr. Kevorkian, Right to Die Freedom Fighter, to be Freed Friday, June 1, 2007

Posted by on May 29, 2007 | 8 Comments

According to its Web site, the Euthanasia Research and Guidance Organization (ERGO) “heartily welcomes the release… of seventy-nine-year-old Dr. Jack Kevorkian, a retired pathologist, who has served eight years of a 10-25 year sentence” and is to be released on parole Friday June 1, 2007.

Dr. Kevorkian is well known for his nearly ten-year-long campaign to help individuals escape from the pain of terminal illnesses, such as Lou Gehrig’s disease. His efforts and resulting incarceration, after being found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Thomas Youk, a Waterford, Michigan man suffering from Lou Gehrig’s disease prompted many states to seek laws legalizing euthanasia. However, abortion opponents, advocates for the disabled, and Catholic leaders have fought the efforts to follow the 1997 Oregon law that allows physicians to prescribe life-ending drugs only to terminally ill but mentally competent adults who can self-administer the medication. Similar proposals, however, failed to get approval in Vermont and California this year. Nonetheless, many are fearful that his release will spur additional challenges and voter initiatives, regarding the issue, to find their way onto the November 2008 ballot.

However, criticism of Kevorkian’s methods was not limited to pro-life advocates but was also criticized by proponents of assisted suicide because as stated by Kate Davenport, communications specialist at the Death with Dignity National Center in Portland, Oregon, the “law has necessary safeguards to prevent abuse but Kevorkian’s methods were not well-regulated or sane and had many pitfalls.” Another surprise is that even the ERGO website states that Dr. Kevorkian, “under the existing letter of the law, was correctly convicted of murder while emphasizing that for those who see his actions as merciful in the light of the dying man’s great pain and distress the action was justified.”

This case made clear that the laws governing homicide need modifying to allow a plea of mercy killing, allowing juries to decide. Kathy Hoffman of the Associated Press states, “Experts agree that the attention on assisted suicide has helped raise awareness about end-of-life care and it is not to be taken lightly with both opponents and supporters agreeing that something needs to be done to offer treatment for those who are dying and suffering from debilitating pain.” This concept is elaborated on by Dr. Sidney Wanzer, a retired Massachusetts doctor who states, “there are a handful of patients who have the best of care, everything has been done right, but they still suffer. And it’s this person I think should have the right to say, “This is not working and I want to die sooner.”

The one undoubted benefit of his ten-year solo euthanasia campaign in the 1990s was to make the general public aware of the unrecognized suffering of many dying people, and that physician-assisted suicide was often times their choice of dealing with it. Now with Dr. Kevorkian promising not to assist in any more deaths, one must hope that he will use his hugely popular voice to influence law reform now through support for real legislative efforts.

[tags]Dr Death, Dr. Kevorkian, Right to Die, ERGO, Euthanasia Research and Guidance Organization, Euthanasia, Physician Assisted Suicide, Oregon law, Mercy killing, Terminal illness, debiliatating pain, Lou Gehrig’s disease, ALS[/tags]

  • Bill @ Racine

    What ever happened to the Hypocratic Oath? Where a doctor swore to do no harm? Have we come to de-value life so much that we would rather see it ended than to nurture it?

    Yes, I know that some of the people that were murdered were in pain and I feel greatly for them, but that does not mean that their lives are of any less value than that of someone who is healthy.

    We have gone from looking at a life as being something of meaning to being nothing more than a “bone bag” that is taking up space and resources.

    It is this mentality that allows us to look at euthanasia and abortion and say – yeah – it’s OK to choose death over life. Because life has no meaning, no purpose, no worth – we can take it whenever and wherever we please.

    Then we sit back and wonder why there is so much violence in this country. Why do we hear day after day of some scandel whether it be from a politician or corporate CEO who steal and cheat their way through life. Why – because the only thing that matters is them. There is no value placed on life and when we dehumanize everyone, then there is no reason not to inflict violence or theft on our fellow human beings because they are of no value.

    Life is sacred, Life is special and Life is a gift from God.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/reflections/ reflections

    Dear Bill
    I agree that human life is valuable and am pro life but I have had friends with such terrifying diseases that it broke my heart. They begged for mercy. ALS and Parkinson’s are such a terrible way to die that I know I would do anything to avoid that type of death. I have also seen people die from cancer that had spread so much that they weren’t even aware what was happening to them. They wore diapers which would have been the ultimate in disgrace to them and the only experience they had was one of horrific pain.

    Having suffered iwth an autoimmune disease and osteoporosis I can relate to their pain and even though I have no wish to end my life I don’t know how I will feel in the future. Fortunately I have a strong family that loves me and I don’t have to face my health issues alone but for those without that support?

    Understanding of others and tolerance of their choices is what I believe Jesus cane to earth to show us. I do not believe that he was a warmonger or He would have saved Himself and the Jews from the Roman’s who ruled them. He did hate corruption and chastised those who were willing to throw stones at others before looking into their own lives and changing what needed to be changed there.

    I wish you a wonderful day and pray that you never experience the pain that others have been forced to live with. Jackie

  • Shadow

    Animals are given more mercy and compassion than humans. We will put an animal down because it is incredibly suffering, but we think that humans somehow do not deserve the same right…usually under some misguided religious concept. Some people may think that the life of one constantly suffering is still valuable…but valuable to who? Certainly not the one suffering and wanting nothing more than peace! I have met people who’s relatives are very old and constantly in the hospital from one thing or another, and these people will do anything to keep their relatives alive….regardless of how the people themselves feel! This is just plain selfishness in my opinion! “We just couldn’t bear to see Grandpa go, he holds this family together” is one thing I have heard. It is the living that suffer from the death of another, not those who are suffering…for them there is only relief. Trying to convince people who’s motives are religious or otherwise though can be difficult, as logic doesn’t seem to make an impact. A great deal of ancient cultures had rituals to let their elderly go on to the other worlds when their time was drawing to an end…it was a natural process for them. In our society though we have grown phobic of death, and often do not even truly live when we are alive. Then there is the basic issue of a society that lives and works in part to support those who cannot or will not support themselves. The weight can become quite burdensome when trying to keep a large amount of people alive with machines and surgeries that often only prolong their suffering. People have the right to die with dignity, and to die as they choose…after all…who truly owns us? The government? Our relatives? No, we own ourselves,, and should have the right to choose for ourselves.

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/reflections/ reflections

    Dear Shadow

    I agreee with you. It was only a few years ago that people were allowed to go when it was time. Now it is often only the machines or doctors that keep them alive, even when that is not their wish.

    I pray that if and when I get to a point where I can no longer rationalize the pain or have lost all my dignity that someone will be there for me. I do not believe that God judges people harshly for avoiding manmade attempts to sustain life.

    Have a nice evening. Jackie

  • Pingback: Yes Jesus Loves Me Mp3

  • Pingback: identity theft and elderly

  • Pingback: Biology and Zoology

  • http://wp3.lockergnome.com/nexus/reflections/2007/05/29/dr-kevorkian-right-to-die-freedom-fighter-to-be-freed-friday-june-1-2007/ Carly 684

    It seems to me that our society has become more and more concerned about regulating the personal decisions of individuals in our society. Whether it be attempting to outlaw abortion, fighting to regulate gay marrage, or arguing that a suffering human being must be forced to live out their pain, the personal lives of American citizens have become increasingly brought under the magnifying glass of politicians and the media. These views are not necessarily the ones I practice in my own life, but I very much value my freedom to make those decisions.
    Dr. Kevorkian provided his services, only to people who requested them. Whether you feel that his actions were inhumane, his ‘patients’ most certainly, did not. Is it possible to argue that a person should, by law, be denied of the right to choose to put an end to their own suffering? Can any other human being, truly understand the pain that this patient is going through? If the answer to this question is no, how then, can we honestly deny this patient their wish? Whether we feel, based on religion, morals, ethics, etc., that this person is making a mistake-I do not feel that we have the right to impose those views on others.
    I do not attempt to argue that the euthanasia, or even suicide, are ethically wrong or right. I simply feel that this decision, along with the others I listed above, should be left for each of us to decide ourselves. I prefer to live by my own standards of life, and make life changing decisions, such as these, based on my own morals-not those of the ‘majority’.