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Biography of Jack KevorkianName: Jack KevorkianBirth Date: May 28, 1928 Death Date: N/A Place of Birth: Pontiac, Michigan, United States of America Nationality: American Gender: Male Occupations: medical doctor, pathologist Jack Kevorkian Jack Kevorkian (born 1928) became known as "Dr. Death," in part, because he assisted many people in committing suicide. Kevorkian considered the right to die to be a basic personal right, having nothing to do with government laws. He felt there could be a time when a suffering person may choose death and that physicians should be allowed to assist.Jack Kevorkian originally wanted to be a baseball radio broadcaster, but his Armenian immigrant parents felt that he should have a more promising career. So he became a doctor, specializing in pathology. Kevorkian worked primarily with deceased people, performing autopsies in order to study the essential nature of diseases. His parents never imagined that he would be the one to design the first modern Thanatron (Greek for "death machine") nor that he would be the first to help people use this machine.Kevorkian was born on May 28, 1928, in Pontiac, Michigan. He …showed first 150 words…
…showed last 150 words…suicide. Kevorkian was also charged under the felony law that bans assisted suicide, which went into effect approximately two weeks before Youk's death. Kevorkian decided to represent himself in the Youk murder trial. On March 26, 1999, he was convicted of the lesser offense of second degree murder by a Michigan jury.In the maelstrom of opinion created by his beliefs, Kevorkian continued his campaign for legalized physician-assisted suicides. He expected to be arrested, and he often was. He felt he was doing his best for people who were terminally ill and suffering great discomfort. In so doing, Kevorkian raised national awareness of assisted suicide and forced the courts and legislatures to make decisions on this controversial issue. Further Reading Detroit Free Press, March 7, 1997; December 10, 1998; November 21, 1998; March 23-28, 1999; April 12, 1999.Euthanasia Research and Guidance Organization, www.FinalExit.orgNewsweek.com, Jack Kevorkian, Death Wish, http://newsweek.com/nw-srv/issue/14_99a/printed/us/na/na0714_1.htm |