“Of course. Any time you interfere with a natural process, you are playing God.”
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Jack Kevorkian
Murad Jacob Kevorkian, also known by the nickname "Dr. Death", was an American pathologist and euthanasia proponent. He publicly championed a terminal patient's right to die by physician-assisted suicide, embodied in his quote, "Dying is not a crime". Kevorkian said that he assisted at least 130 patients to that end. He was convicted of murder in 1999.
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culture · American pathologist and euthanasia activist (1928–2011) · physician · composer · painter · jazz musician · pathologist · politician · anatomical pathologist · polyglot · also Jack Kevorkian, Dr. Death, Jacob "Jack" Kevorkian, Jacob Kevorkian, Doctor Death, Kevorkian
Born 26 May 1928 · Died 3 June 2011 · Q46636
44 published statements · 0 followers
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2026· 5 entries
“What difference does it make if someone is terminal? We are all terminal.”
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“suffering or doomed persons [to] kill themselves”
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Public attention spiked: 5,013 Wikipedia readers in one day, 4× the usual 1,258, with 1 article edits.
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The New York Times: Dr. Jack Kevorkian
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2024· 1 entry
MLive: Jack Kevorkian
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2015· 1 entry
The 1968 Volkswagen Type 2 van in which Jack Kevorkian assisted some of his suicidal patients was bought by paranormal investigator Zak Bagans (from the documentary series Ghost Adventures) for display in his haunted mus
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2011· 13 entries
The Guardian: 'Dr Death' Jack Kevorkian, advocate of assisted suicide, dies in hospital
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The Guardian: Jack Kevorkian obituary
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The Guardian: 'Dr Death' Jack Kevorkian dies at 83
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At William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan
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Died 2011-06-03.
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“When your conscience says law is immoral, don't follow it.”
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“We need some honesty and sincerity instead of corrupt government in Washington.”
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“Am I a criminal? The world knows I'm not a criminal. What are they trying to put me in jail for? You've lost common sense in this society because of religious fanaticism and dogma.”
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“This is not a trial. This is a lynching. There is no law.”
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Disability rights and anti-legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia group Not Dead Yet spoke out against Kevorkian, citing potentially concerning sentiments he expressed in his published writing
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His paintings became the center of a legal entanglement between his sole heir and the Armenian Library and Museum of America
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“This is a medical service. It always was.”
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“You're going to watch a person suffer in agony while somebody's debating?”
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2010· 2 entries
MLive: Jack Kevorkian biopic 'You Don't Know Jack' gets special premiere in Detroit
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Regarding the movie and Kevorkian's world view
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2008· 2 entries
Kevorkian announced plans to run for United States Congress to represent Michigan's 9th congressional district as an independent against eight-term congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-Bloomfield Hills), former Michigan Lotter
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“brings tears to my eyes – and I lived through it”
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2007· 2 entries
Law: Jack Kevorkian released from prison, says he will work to have assisted suicide legalized
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On condition he would not offer advice about, participate in, or be present at the act of any type of euthanasia to any other person, nor that he promote or talk about the procedure of assisted suicide
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2005· 2 entries
Kevorkian was denied parole by a board on the count of 7–2 recommending not to give parole
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Kevorkian said that if he were granted parole, he would not resume directly helping people die and would restrict himself to campaigning to have the law changed
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1999· 1 entry
A jury began deliberations in the first-degree murder trial of Kevorkian
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1998· 4 entries
Kevorkian was charged with first-degree murder and the delivery of a controlled substance (administering the lethal injection to Thomas Youk)
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Kevorkian himself administered Thomas Youk a lethal injection
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Which depicted the voluntary euthanasia of Thomas Youk, 52, who was in the final stages of Lou Gehrig's disease
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Kevorkian was arrested and tried for murder after broadcasting the voluntary euthanasia of a man named Thomas Youk who had Lou Gehrig's disease, or ALS
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1994· 1 entry
Commented that he wanted to express sorrow at Kevorkian's death and that the 1994 case was brought under "a badly written law" aimed at Kevorkian, but he attempted to give him "the best trial possible"
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1992· 1 entry
Kevorkian himself wrote that it is always necessary to consult a psychiatrist when performing assisted suicides because a person's "mental state is [
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1991· 1 entry
However, the State of Michigan revoked Kevorkian's medical license and made it clear that, given his actions, he was no longer permitted to practice medicine or to work with patients
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1990· 1 entry
As there were, at that time, no laws in Michigan regarding assisted suicide
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1989· 1 entry
With Alzheimer's disease, took place in 1990
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1987· 1 entry
Kevorkian started advertising in Detroit newspapers as a physician consultant for "death counseling"
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1952· 1 entry
Graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor
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1928· 2 entries
Born 1928-05-26.
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In Pontiac, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit
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1926· 1 entry
Followed by son Murad, and their third and last child, Flora
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1912· 1 entry
Where he found work at an automobile foundry
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