Posted on 05/26/2006 10:37:54 AM PDT by Abathar
Today, on his 78th birthday, Jack Kevorkian, the man known as "Dr. Death," is slowly dying in prison.
And, according to his lawyer, Kevorkian seems to have second thoughts about helping people die.
For years, Kevorkian was the center of a national debate around the highly controversial questions surrounding physician-assisted suicide or "mercy killing:" Do the terminally ill have the right to choose when and how they die? Do doctors have the ability, even an obligation, to help them die as they choose?
Now, as he sits in jail, Kevorkian may have had a change of heart — not about his dedication to the "death with dignity" movement, but on how he went about promoting it.
Specifically, he questions the more than 100 suicides he said he assisted throughout the 1990s. One assisted suicide — the death of Lou Gehrig's disease patient Thomas Youk, which was taped and broadcast on "60 Minutes" in 1998 — earned him a prison sentence of 15 years to 20 years for second degree murder.
"He did what he did, and it brought it to public awareness [of physician-assisted suicide]," said Kevorkian's attorney, Mayer Morganroth. "He now realizes that having performed it when it was against the law, wasn't the, probably, appropriate way to go about it. … What he should have done was work towards its legalization verbally. … Pursuing that cause, and not performing it because it still was against the law."
'He Gets Depressed at Times'
Less than a week ago, Morganroth publicly stated that doctors had told Kevorkian he had less than a year to live.
Kevorkian suffers from Hepatitis C, which he contracted during service in Vietnam. Morganroth said Kevorkian's liver enzyme levels were three to four times above normal — a clear signal his liver was failing.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
> The point is, we know who made Crom up.
Indeed. But does *not* knowing who invented such and such a god provide evidence *for* that god?
> you wouldn't want to choose wrong.
And thus, choosing *no* gods would be the rational choice. If there is a god and this god is a reasonable fella, then having chosen reasonably will stand you in good stead. If there is a god and this god is unreasonable, then you've absolutely no way of determining what belief system - if any - will stand you in good stead. If there are no gods, then it doesn't matter.
Of course, simply choosing to believe or not believe is often enough not an option. Rational people often believe in the unrational, and know full well that it's unrational. Humans is weird critters.
> you atheists/pagans are always good for a laugh
Not nearly as much as those who lump atheists and pagans together as a group. Like apples and orange-painted leaded crystal cats.
He just figured this out? Not very bright, is he?
Not at all. Of course they are separate groups. Perhaps I should have said atheists and pagans. Remember, we were talking about an fictional pagan god, but you were making atheistic remarks. However, pagans are funnier as atheists tend to take themselves far more seriously than they deserve. But perhaps you won't be laughing one day. Or maybe you will. We'll have to wait and see.
Choosing *no* god is also a choice. IMO, the wrong one. Anad perhaps god has a different idea of what is "reasonable" than you, or even I, do
Ping to read later
LOL!!
I find it incredibly ironic that he now has the opportunity to "reflect" on his own life as he slowly dies. Those he "assisted" were not given as much...
> perhaps god has a different idea of what is "reasonable" than you, or even I, do
Quite possibly. In which case, pretty much everybody may well be screwed. Maybe this god's notion of who deserves paradise and who deserves damnation is based on the total number of cells in your body at the moment of death... odd gets sent straight to Hell.
> you were making atheistic remarks.
Really? To question makes one an atheist? Only atheists question? Only atheists consider possibilities? Huh.
> We'll have to wait and see.
Or not.
True. It doesn't appear that Dr. Death ever did either. I doubt he would have been sent to save soldiers' lives if it had been known at the time that he was really a mass murderer at heart. I wonder how many murders he got away with before he became emboldened enough to go public. Did it start in Viet Nam? The world may never know. But we do know that he was never interested in ending anyone's suffering. He's a coward, who murdered people when they were at their most vulnerable. It turned him on. He didn't ease anyone's suffering. He just murdered them, and got off on it.
Dr. Jack better sleep with one eye open for a year. One of those doctors treating him in prison might think just like him too. Might give him a little assist one night.
Interesting point of view. Does this mean you've changed your mind about forced euthanasia?
Interesting point of view. Does this mean you've changed your mind about forced euthanasia?
Take your Schiavo rap to a Schiavo thread. Don't pollute.
Next time you suggest that forced euthanasia is wrong, don't forget the sarcasm tag. Than you won't have to worry about anyone suspecting that you don't support it any more.
Next time you suggest that forced euthanasia is wrong, don't forget the sarcasm tag. Than you won't have to worry about anyone suspecting that you don't support it any more.
You're like a stuck record. What do you do, go around on all Freeper threads looking for one where you can insert your Schiavo rap on? Actually, as the topic here is Kevorkian, I can see why you might hop on it, looking to pick a fight and waiting for an opening to start winding up on Schiavo and then throwing the ball. Talking about a Johnny-one-note. Well, debate yourself about this. You'll have more fun.
You are the one who looked for me, and posted a sarcastic comment, forgetting to use a sarcasm tag. Of course I remember your campaign in favor of forced euthanasia. You were quite entertaining. You earned the nickname Coco Puffs. You defended Kavorkian's practices, with a vengeance. Now you come on here, pretending you know that forced euthanasia is wrong, after vehemently arguing in favor of it.
The fact that you invaded several Terri Schiavo threads to spread your propaganda doesn't change anything. Countless people have been murdered since then, using the methods you advocate. It was wrong then. It's wrong now. It will be wrong tomorrow. I won't change my mind about that. I'll continue praying that you do. A soul is a terrible thing to waste.
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