Doctor Death

Jack Kevorkian died this week. He was a pathologist who served time in prison. His was the public face of “assisted suicide” in the 1990’s. He had a hand in “helping” over 130 Americans end their lives. Some would say good riddance. After all, only God – and the government – should be able to (legally) end an adult’s life. Others would say he was an angel of God, a facilitator for the terminally ill to carry out their end-of-life wishes on their own terms, at a time of their own choosing. But who gives them the right to choose? And who gave Dr. K the right to help them? Kevorkian was 83 when he died of heart disease and cancer. Ironically, he may well have chosen to have his own “Doctor Death” help him end his life, rather than suffer through a painful, lingering demise. But he had no legal right to do so. RIP Jack.