Kevorkian out of prison after 8 years - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

catlover79 · 06-01-2007, 01:49 PM

By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN, Associated Press Writer

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

A smiling Kevorkian, now 79, said it was "one of the high points in life" as he walked out with his attorney.

Mike Wallace, the correspondent for "60 Minutes," whose airing of a Kevorkian-aided suicide led to the charges and his prison term, met Kevorkian outside with an embrace and the words, "Hello, young man." Kevorkian is to appear in a "60 Minutes" segment on Sunday.

Attorney Mayer Morganroth said his client planned a news conference on Tuesday.

"He thanks everybody for coming. He thanks the thousands who have supported him, have written to him and the enormous amount of people who have really been comfortable in supporting him," Morganroth said. "He just wants a little privacy for the next few days."

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. Kevorkian had videotaped Youk's death and sent it to "60 Minutes."

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

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 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.

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.

In a recent interview, Kevorkian also made it clear that his support for letting people decide when they want to die hasn't wavered.

"It's got to be legalized. That's the point," he told WJBK-TV in Detroit. "I'll work to have it legalized. But I won't break any laws doing it."

The Michigan Catholic Conference says it will oppose any effort to renew the push for assisted suicide in Michigan.

The state has had a law banning assisted suicide since 1998, the same year voters rejected a ballot proposal that would have made physician-assisted suicide legal for terminally ill patients. Oregon is the only state in the nation in which a terminally ill patient with six months or less to live can legally ask a doctor to prescribe a lethal amount of medication.

Kevorkian will be on parole for two years, and one of the conditions he must meet is that he can't help anyone else die. He is also prohibited from providing care for anyone who is older than 62 or is disabled. He could go back to prison if he violates his parole.

He will report regularly to a parole officer and won't be able to leave the state without permission. He can speak about assisted suicide, but can't show people how to make a machine like one he invented to give lethal drugs to those who wanted to die, Department of Corrections spokesman Russ Marlan said.

Kevorkian did not have many possessions to take out of prison with him, in part because many of them have disappeared.

"Strange as this may seem, last month ... someone stole his manuscript he'd been writing and his belongings," Morganroth said, adding that he expects someone took Kevorkian's clothes and medicine to sell on eBay.

Holmes said Kevorkian was looking forward to eating some of the things he couldn't freely get in prison, including a sandwich of plain sliced turkey on thin lavosh bread.

"He's looking forward to some grapes and apricots," she said. "He loves pistachios."

Working with Kevorkian, Holmes already has sent to a book publisher about 250 of the thousands of letters he got while in prison.

"He wasn't able to answer all of them, but it was very heartwarming to see the number of people who wrote to him from all over the world," she said.

Geoffrey Fieger, Kevorkian's former attorney, said that once Kevorkian is off probation, he should continue assisting people who want to commit suicide.

"He's on a short leash for the next two years," Fieger said Friday. "After that, it will be another story. After two years, he no longer is going to be under their thumb."

With those sweaters and ties, he always looked like a creepy version of Mr. Rogers.

Lee · 06-01-2007, 03:44 PM

I don't approve of what he does, but as a christian I understand what pain
people can go through seeing someone they love suffer from a terminal
illness.

Janice · 06-01-2007, 04:32 PM

I always had mixed emotions on the subject of doctor assisted suicides. However, after seeing my parents waste away in such terrible pain, I now think people who are terminally ill should be able to make that choice.

Lex Luthor · 06-01-2007, 04:40 PM

Seeing a family member suffer through Lou Gerigs disease changed my opinion on the whole right to die issue.

If you are terminally ill, why shouldn't you have the right to end your own suffering.

AB · 06-01-2007, 05:08 PM

This Kevorkian always gave me the willies, the idea of someone going around helping people to die just seems frightening.

dawsongirl · 06-02-2007, 06:23 PM

I think he was just helping people. They came to him, honestly wanting to go through with it to end their terminal suffering. Not like he was killing just anyone. If you're going to die of your disease and are tired of being in pain, that's your choice. Probably less painful than if you tried to kill yourself, by yourself.

Scoobiedoo30 · 06-03-2007, 12:40 AM

When did this happen

Lee · 06-03-2007, 02:24 AM

Originally posted by agmfox8@yahoo.com:
When did this happen?

Friday June 1st. Didn't you read the beginning of the article?

TripperFan · 06-04-2007, 11:27 AM

I'm glad he's out of jail. I hated to see him going to prison and respected him all the more when he faced it like he did.

I have mixed reactions too. I was always for assisted suicide and discussed it at length with my mother for 10 years before her death. She had arranged it with her doctor (you'd be surprised how many doctors are for it, but can't speak out about it). I was even given the prescription for morphine during the last two weeks. We were supposed to bring her home for the Thanksgiving weekend (to avoid a coroner's inquest) and allow her to take the morphine here. But when it came time to do it, I just couldn't bring myself even though I knew that's what she wanted. How can you assist in taking the life of the person who gave you life? I couldn't do it.

The way Kevorkian did it was best. The patient would do it themselves and leave the family out of it. That way there wasn't the guilt associated with it.

There's still some suspicion around my mom's death. She just happened to die on the exact day she wanted to - the way she wanted to. My brother and I now wonder if her sister (who's a retired RN) didn't come up and do it herself. If that's the case, we hold nothing against her. If anything, I admire the fact that she could do it. We've never talked about it with her, nor would we.

This actually happens more than you might realize. I think terminally ill people should be given the choice. Kevorkian stood his ground and stood up for what he feels is right. I admire him for that. I hope he's left alone to enjoy what life he has left.

AllIWantIsYourClutch · 06-04-2007, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lex Luthor

Seeing a family member suffer through Lou Gerigs disease changed my opinion on the whole right to die issue.

If you are terminally ill, why shouldn't you have the right to end your own suffering.

I agree. It's so hard watching someone live with that disease.

TripperFan · 06-04-2007, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllIWantIsYourClutch

I agree. It's so hard watching someone live with that disease.

That one has to be the worst of them all I think. Can you just imagine all your muscles slowly seizing up on you? Incredibly horrible.

Yes, we do it for our animals, why can't a person make the call for themselves if necessary? I mean sure, you can always try to hold out with hope, but some diseases are just so hideous with no cure close in sight that I can't see why people can't have the right to die if they like. That's why to me he's always been a bit of a heroe (even if it's in a creepy sense).

(Boy this reminds me of the massive debate when Terri Shiavo's case was in the news although in that particular case, I felt they shouldn't have pulled the plug since we never knew for sure what her own views on it were).

AKA · 06-04-2007, 03:28 PM

Thank God! I have a splitting headache.

06-01-2007, 01:49 PM	#1
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Kevorkian out of prison after 8 years By KATHY BARKS HOFFMAN, Associated Press Writer COLDWATER, Mich. - Jack Kevorkian, the retired pathologist dubbed "Dr. Death" for claims that he participated in at least 130 assisted suicides, left prison after eight years Friday still believing people have the right to die. A smiling Kevorkian, now 79, said it was "one of the high points in life" as he walked out with his attorney. Mike Wallace, the correspondent for "60 Minutes," whose airing of a Kevorkian-aided suicide led to the charges and his prison term, met Kevorkian outside with an embrace and the words, "Hello, young man." Kevorkian is to appear in a "60 Minutes" segment on Sunday. Attorney Mayer Morganroth said his client planned a news conference on Tuesday. "He thanks everybody for coming. He thanks the thousands who have supported him, have written to him and the enormous amount of people who have really been comfortable in supporting him," Morganroth said. "He just wants a little privacy for the next few days." 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. Kevorkian had videotaped Youk's death and sent it to "60 Minutes." The conviction earned Kevorkian a 10- to 25-year sentence for second degree murder, but he earned time off his sentence for good behavior. 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 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. 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. In a recent interview, Kevorkian also made it clear that his support for letting people decide when they want to die hasn't wavered. "It's got to be legalized. That's the point," he told WJBK-TV in Detroit. "I'll work to have it legalized. But I won't break any laws doing it." The Michigan Catholic Conference says it will oppose any effort to renew the push for assisted suicide in Michigan. The state has had a law banning assisted suicide since 1998, the same year voters rejected a ballot proposal that would have made physician-assisted suicide legal for terminally ill patients. Oregon is the only state in the nation in which a terminally ill patient with six months or less to live can legally ask a doctor to prescribe a lethal amount of medication. Kevorkian will be on parole for two years, and one of the conditions he must meet is that he can't help anyone else die. He is also prohibited from providing care for anyone who is older than 62 or is disabled. He could go back to prison if he violates his parole. He will report regularly to a parole officer and won't be able to leave the state without permission. He can speak about assisted suicide, but can't show people how to make a machine like one he invented to give lethal drugs to those who wanted to die, Department of Corrections spokesman Russ Marlan said. Kevorkian did not have many possessions to take out of prison with him, in part because many of them have disappeared. "Strange as this may seem, last month ... someone stole his manuscript he'd been writing and his belongings," Morganroth said, adding that he expects someone took Kevorkian's clothes and medicine to sell on eBay. Holmes said Kevorkian was looking forward to eating some of the things he couldn't freely get in prison, including a sandwich of plain sliced turkey on thin lavosh bread. "He's looking forward to some grapes and apricots," she said. "He loves pistachios." Working with Kevorkian, Holmes already has sent to a book publisher about 250 of the thousands of letters he got while in prison. "He wasn't able to answer all of them, but it was very heartwarming to see the number of people who wrote to him from all over the world," she said. Geoffrey Fieger, Kevorkian's former attorney, said that once Kevorkian is off probation, he should continue assisting people who want to commit suicide. "He's on a short leash for the next two years," Fieger said Friday. "After that, it will be another story. After two years, he no longer is going to be under their thumb." With those sweaters and ties, he always looked like a creepy version of Mr. Rogers.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

06-01-2007, 04:40 PM	#4
Lex Luthor I'm bringing Lexy back Senior Member Join Date: Jun 07, 2005 Location: The Great White North Posts: 2,374	Seeing a family member suffer through Lou Gerigs disease changed my opinion on the whole right to die issue. If you are terminally ill, why shouldn't you have the right to end your own suffering.
	__________________ I look forward to resuming our verbal judo - Lex Luthor It's a complicated world, Clark. Only the naïve view it in black and white - Lex Luthor Genevieve: "I underestimated you, Lex." Lex: "Well, that’s a common mistake." Lionel Luthor: "We don't need to play games, son." Lex Luthor: "Dad, games are all we got."

06-03-2007, 12:40 AM	#7
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	When did this happen
	__________________ Who Dat

06-04-2007, 11:27 AM	#9
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	I'm glad he's out of jail. I hated to see him going to prison and respected him all the more when he faced it like he did. I have mixed reactions too. I was always for assisted suicide and discussed it at length with my mother for 10 years before her death. She had arranged it with her doctor (you'd be surprised how many doctors are for it, but can't speak out about it). I was even given the prescription for morphine during the last two weeks. We were supposed to bring her home for the Thanksgiving weekend (to avoid a coroner's inquest) and allow her to take the morphine here. But when it came time to do it, I just couldn't bring myself even though I knew that's what she wanted. How can you assist in taking the life of the person who gave you life? I couldn't do it. The way Kevorkian did it was best. The patient would do it themselves and leave the family out of it. That way there wasn't the guilt associated with it. There's still some suspicion around my mom's death. She just happened to die on the exact day she wanted to - the way she wanted to. My brother and I now wonder if her sister (who's a retired RN) didn't come up and do it herself. If that's the case, we hold nothing against her. If anything, I admire the fact that she could do it. We've never talked about it with her, nor would we. This actually happens more than you might realize. I think terminally ill people should be given the choice. Kevorkian stood his ground and stood up for what he feels is right. I admire him for that. I hope he's left alone to enjoy what life he has left.
	__________________ If I don't see you in this world, I'll meet you in the next one.....don't be late James Marshall Hendrix Voodoo Chile The Forum Legend formerly known as TripperFan "religion is for people who are afraid of hell--spirituality is for people who have been through hell"---anonymous

06-01-2007, 03:44 PM	#2
Lee veteran member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 23, 2001 Location: Pulaski, Tennessee Posts: 4,768	I don't approve of what he does, but as a christian I understand what pain people can go through seeing someone they love suffer from a terminal illness.

06-01-2007, 04:32 PM	#3
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I always had mixed emotions on the subject of doctor assisted suicides. However, after seeing my parents waste away in such terrible pain, I now think people who are terminally ill should be able to make that choice.

06-01-2007, 05:08 PM	#5
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	This Kevorkian always gave me the willies, the idea of someone going around helping people to die just seems frightening.

06-02-2007, 06:23 PM	#6
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	I think he was just helping people. They came to him, honestly wanting to go through with it to end their terminal suffering. Not like he was killing just anyone. If you're going to die of your disease and are tired of being in pain, that's your choice. Probably less painful than if you tried to kill yourself, by yourself.

06-03-2007, 02:24 AM	#8
Lee veteran member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: May 23, 2001 Location: Pulaski, Tennessee Posts: 4,768	Originally posted by agmfox8@yahoo.com: When did this happen? Friday June 1st. Didn't you read the beginning of the article?

06-04-2007, 03:28 PM	#12
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	Thank God! I have a splitting headache.