Essay/Term paper: Dr jack kevorkian: disrupting the universe

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Humanities Essays

Dr Jack Kevorkian: Disrupting the Universe


Mike Cunningham
12-27-96
Social Studies 2, Mr. Johnson

Dr. Jack Kevorkian did something that most people would never even think
of doing or think that someone would do such a thing. He really did disrupt the
universe by taking the whole world by surprise. Jack Kevorkian was the first
person in the United States to assist in suicides in a big way. He started in
1990 by placing a newspaper add for assisted suicide. He then developed a
device he called the Suicide Machine, which injected deadly drugs into the
bloodstream. Once the shock passed over, the issue was brought up that he did
not commit any crimes, or he is a murderer. Most people think very strongly in
one way or the other. Myself and many other people believe that Jack Kevorkian
has not done anything wrong and he should not be punished.
He has been present at 46 suicides since 1990. He has been to jail
numerous times , but always let off on bail or another technicality. 38 times
he has not even gone to court for his assisted suicides. Assisted suicides are
still illegal in every state, but he has gotten off on technicalities or some
other issue.
All of the people he assisted in suicides either were terminally ill or
they wanted to be killed due to other serious medical problems. There have been
reports of a person beating her son in tennis one week before she killed herself
with the help of Jack Kevorkian and his suicide machine, but she was terminally
ill and Dr. Kevorkian would not help kill people unless their life was in
danger or they were not living comfortably. Kevorkian was previously a doctor
dealing with terminally ill people and death counseling. From this experience
he knew that for some people suicide was the only Solution.
On the other hand, some people believe that what he started was a
terrible thing. Just the other day there was a article in the newspaper that a
man who was sick was planning to kill himself, so he had a party with all his
friends as sort of a going away celebration. Going away for good. People who
do not believe in assisted suicide think that Kevorkian has made people think it
is all right to kill yourself when things are not going right in your life.
Many people think he is a murderer because of what he has done, and in a way he
is.
Jack Kevorkian dared to do what he believed in and as a result surprised
the Universe. He is still, after all the things said and done to him,
sticking to what he believes in.