Dr. Jack Kevorkian Dies at 83
Credit: Jeff Vespa/WireImage
Dr. Jack Kevorkian died early Friday morning, the Detroit Free Press reports. He was 83.
Once known as "Dr. Death" for his controversial advocacy of assisted suicide in terminally ill cases, Kevorkian suffered from kidney and heart problems at the time of his death; he was not placed on life support.
Kevorkian was surrounded by his niece, Ava Janus, and his attorney, Mayer Morganroth, when he passed. "It was peaceful," Morganroth said. "He didn't feel a thing."
In 2010, Al Pacino won an Emmy for his portrayal of Kevorkian in HBO's You Don't Know Jack.
"He couldn't be better," Kevorkian told Us Weekly of Pacino's performance at the film's New York premiere. "The only word for it in English is 'superb,' and even that is a weak word."
Kevorkian assisted about 130 terminally or chronically ill patients in their deaths in the 1990s. In 1999, he was convicted of second-degree murder after sending a videotape of himself euthanizing a terminally ill man to CBS' 60 Minutes; his medical license was subsequently revoked.
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18@Steve: Didn't realize you knew all those people personally that he assisted, and had the medical knowledge to discern if they were depressed vs. terminal, or the fact that one has nothing to do with the other (you can be terminal AND depressed, and without one or the other). Somehow I don't think this was for his 'entertainment' - try reading up on Harold Shipman. You'll see the difference.
@Darren: Um, I have no issue with your having your opinion (nor did I ever state I did), I have issue with you calling people b!tches because of theirs, @sshat.
Robyn- as do I stupid b!tch. Opinions go both ways and just because I don't agree with yours just proves that I'm much more intelligent.
Kavorkian was one sick pervert, who got off killing people. Many of those he killed were depressed...not terminal. Rather than treatment for the depression, he killed them for his entertainment.
Troll somewhere else, Darren. People have a right to their opinion, and if they feel compassion and appreciation for this man, it's none of your concern.
You crazy b!tches on here are probably the same people that whine about a cat or dog or other animal being hurt but could give a sh!t about human life.
I think he helped people who were terminally ill end their lives and it was all for good reasons. He did it to help them, even if he was jailed for it. He lived his life with dignity and allowed terminally ill people to end their lives with dignity. I too hope that there is someone like him to continue his fight. May he rest in peace.
He was a man that helped those who were terminally ill die with dignity. If you ever saw the video that landed him in jail, you would have seen what pain the main with Lou Gehrig's disease was in. He was terrified of dying by choking on his own saliva. Watch that video and if you still feel he is a killer, I question your humanity. Rest in peace Jack, I just hope there is someone as brave as you were to continue your fight.
I can't believe that everyone on here thinks it's OK to take another human life.
Mary Bonacorsi- it's obvious that you don't know who is ultimately responsible for someone's timing of death and that's God. No human should have the right to take their own life or have someone else do it. It's murder.
He was a great man who did something that he thought was right, I only hope if I have a terminal disease and am pain somehow someone will be as compassionate to me to help me end my life.
RIP.You were a brave man Dr. Kevorkian.
RIP You were a brave man Dr. Kevorkian.
Darren, It is obvious you have no experience in the healthcare system. When you've held someone's hand while they're taking their lasts breaths and been in extreme pain since they were diagnosed with cancer 6 months ago, then make a comment. RIP Jack.
RIP. He was a man with compassion! Remember that people sought him out looking for a way to end their pain. He did the humane thing. He wasn't a killer like some naive people like to think.
In my eyes he was an angel of mercy. No religious comments please!
I'm glad you went in peace, Dr. Kevorkian, as you helped so many others do. Grace of God and the Universe be with you.
RIP killer.