Jack Kevorkian, who assisted the suicide of at least 130 people–mostly depressed people with disabilities, is having a splendid post prison career. He receives $50,000 a speech, he was portrayed by Al Pacino in a puff biopic that won an Emmy. And he is now a public speaker who demands up to $50,000 a speech.
On the 15th, he will be speaking at UCLA–I am sure for a hefty fee. And this is how the murderer is described. From the press release for “An Evening With Jack Kevorkian:”
Los Angeles, CA – Dr. Jack Kevorkian, one of America’s most prominent physicians, and widely considered a leading expert on Euthanasia, will be the guest of honor at a lecture at University of California, Los Angeles’s Royce Hall on Saturday, January 15, 2011 at 7:00 PM…
He is also called “a world renowned pathologist.” He was no such thing during his medical career. He blazed no trails. He developed no new techniques. Until he began making headlines, he had made few ripples.
What is amazing–and truly appalling–is that the facts about K don’t matter a whit any more. But I feel obliged to keep important facts about Kevorkian in the public sphere in case anybody wishes to restore sanity about whom we laud in public life. Anyone interested in learning about the “real” Jack Kevorkian, please attend at Secondhand Smoke.
January 12th, 2011 | 8:11 pm
Yeah, I used to be like you. Back when I only knew what public opinion would state. Ofcourse I was a kid. Only those who knew real pain, the kind all the opposition never truly faced, wanted his help where no help could be found. I don’t agree with many of his beliefs or maybe even tactics but the man filled a void and had a point. None of which was for his own advantage or name. (any BS comment for this, please direct to a brick wall…fools) Wait until you are faced with that reality. Still a debatable topic?…you bet! But not one to put to bed as “bad”.
January 13th, 2011 | 8:12 pm
Me–
You have my pity. You understand neither Dr. J (I don’t mean just now, but his horrendous activities in Michigan–I was living there then), his excuses (which put to death many non-terminal folks), and his opportunistic lawyer (Feiger) who used K and euthanasia as a career booster.
No one has to put Stalin or Hitler to bed as bad, they were just bad.
Like K.
Using your anecdotal “pain” of others, which YOU did not know or experience either, and to give K a shred of credibility means you must lend him the little you have.
But given your intensity for being right about this horrendous wrong, I doubt you care.
K didn’t care, either. And that’s the point.
January 14th, 2011 | 10:25 am
I recommend the article by sometime FT contributor, Dr. Paul R. McHugh entitled “The Kevorkian Epidemic”, available online. It is devastating on Psycho Jack.
January 18th, 2011 | 8:28 am
Maybe his methods aren’t what everyone would agree to, but he did fill and bring to light what is needed in this country. People should be allowed to die with dignity when the pain is too much to bear, when death is near, and/or when the quality of life is no longer desirable such as being in a vegetable state. What right does any government or person have over another ones right to end their life under their own free will? We allow animals to die in order to spare their suffering, so why not the same compassion for people?? Maybe as a society those types of things need to be made known at a younger, but mature age so that one’s wishes are known and carried out. Who knows what the right method or methods should be, for that certainly up to debate which is what Dr K was bringing to the public’s attention. But the bottom line is is that no one should have the power to deny another to die with dignity in their time of need. And what defines a time of need is also up to debate. Simply being depressed would in no way be good enough. The measuring stick should be the physical loss of the quality of life and/or the chronic pain and suffering one has to endure while waiting for death to come.
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