Dr. Jack Kevorkian, often referred to as the “Kevorkian Doctor,” became a central figure in the debate surrounding assisted suicide. His journey began with an interest in offering choice to death row inmates, evolving into a highly controversial practice of assisting terminally ill individuals in ending their lives. This exploration delves into the formative years of Kevorkian’s activism, leading up to his first publicly known assisted suicide case.
Early Advocacy and the Shift to Assisted Suicide
In 1984, driven by his concerns about the increasing number of executions in the US, the kevorkian doctor revisited an earlier concept: providing death row prisoners with an alternative. He proposed allowing inmates to choose organ donation followed by death via anesthesia, instead of methods like poison gas or the electric chair. This initiative led to an invitation to address the California Legislature, where he presented a bill designed to facilitate this choice. This experience proved to be a turning point for Dr. Kevorkian. The attention from lawmakers and the media fueled his engagement in the growing national discourse on dying with dignity. In 1987, seeking to understand existing practices, he traveled to the Netherlands. There, he studied the methods employed by Dutch physicians to assist terminally ill patients in suicide without legal repercussions, gaining insights that would shape his future actions.
“Bioethics and Obiatry” and Public Announcement
Returning to Michigan in 1988, the kevorkian doctor took a significant step by publicly advertising a new medical practice. He termed it “bioethics and obiatry,” and announced in Detroit newspapers his intention to offer “death counseling” to patients and their families. Kevorkian openly communicated his intentions to reporters, emphasizing that he would not charge for his services and would personally cover all euthanasia-related expenses. He even demonstrated to journalists the simple apparatus he had created – a metal frame holding vials of drugs, including thiopental for sedation and potassium chloride to stop the heart – designed to enable patients to self-administer a lethal dose.
The “Doctrine” and First Patient
To ensure patient comfort and protect himself legally, the kevorkian doctor developed a strict “doctrine.” This involved requiring a clear and persistent wish to die from the patient, consultations with family physicians and mental health professionals, and a mandatory waiting period of at least a month for patients to reconsider. Crucially, Kevorkian meticulously documented each case, videotaping interviews with patients, families, and friends, as well as the “medicides,” his term for the assisted suicides. On June 4, 1990, Janet Adkins, an Alzheimer’s sufferer and former teacher from Oregon, became the first person to utilize Dr. Kevorkian’s assistance. Her life ended inside Dr. Kevorkian’s 1968 Volkswagen van, parked at a campground near his residence, marking the beginning of his highly controversial and impactful role in the right-to-die movement.
Conclusion:
The journey of the “kevorkian doctor” from advocating for organ donation to facilitating assisted suicide began with a focus on choice and dignity. His early efforts to provide options for death row inmates and his subsequent study of Dutch practices laid the groundwork for his controversial path. The case of Janet Adkins marked a pivotal moment, thrusting Dr. Kevorkian and the complex ethical and legal questions surrounding assisted suicide into the national spotlight, initiating a debate that continues to this day.
