Liberal-endorsed killer careers

Terri Schiavo Schindler's brother Bobby Schindler wrote this column on June 9, disclosing facts you won't read in MSM about career killers Dr. Jack Kevorkian and Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos:

You have probably heard by now that Dr. Jack Kevorkian was released early from prison last week for "good behavior" after serving only eight years of his 10- to 25-year sentence following his conviction for second-degree murder.... for killing a man - by lethal injection - that had... Lou Gehrig's disease - a murder he had the audacity to videotape and release to 60 Minutes in an effort to promote the legalization of assisted suicide.

wallacehug.jpg

You might have even... witness[ed] the news footage of Mike Wallace of 60 Minutes warmly embracing the doctor as he left prison. Perhaps you watched the interview with Mr. Wallace that aired this past Sunday....

However, during the interview, not surprisingly, Mr. Wallace failed to mention that not only were over half of Kevorkian's 130 victims not terminally ill, but a number were suffering primarily from depression and had no serious physical ailments whatsoever. The autopsies performed on his patients exposed this disturbing truth.

Even more alarming, however, is that no one ever mentions Kevorkian's very real and very troubling fixation with death....

I saw the same treatment given to Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, during the battle to save my sister....

While the secular media constantly scrutinized the attorneys representing my parents as coming from the mold of the "religious right," Felos was given a free pass in spite of his activism on behalf of euthanasia and some very real and alarming obsessions with death he shares with Kevorkian....

[P]eople... need only look at these disturbed individuals who are actively promoting [assisted suicide] to realize this is not the answer. When you compare an article written by Jeff Hooton regarding Jack Kevorkian with some of what George Felos has written in his own book (as taken from the article "Portrait of a Spiritual Killer" by Ben Wiker) you can begin to understand that these two appear to have a ghastly love affair with death.

Kevorkian carried around a camera while he was a medical resident to photograph patients' eyes at the moment of death and would experiment with transfusing blood from corpses into live patients. Felos admitted he could "speak" to the incognizant via his stomach, which he referred to as "soul speak," and also assured one of his clients it was "OK to leave your body and die now."

Kevorkian, who considers himself an accomplished artist, would mix cadaver blood with his own, using it to paint the frame for one of his works. He produced several paintings filled with detached organs and severed heads. Felos admitted to having visions of "the side of his throat cut and blood gushing from his carotid artery" and watching his "hot red blood darken" on the floor.

Kevorkian said that carbon monoxide gives a corpse a "lovely glow".... Felos told the world that Terri "looked beautiful" and that he had "never seen such a look of peace and beauty upon her" as she lay dying of dehydration. How can anyone turn a blind eye to such a ghoulish and offensive comment, knowing full well that someone who has gone without food or water for almost two weeks looks about as "beautiful" as a victim of Auschwitz?

Instead of the media insisting that these two are acting out of "compassion" for those who are "asking" to be killed, perhaps they should be investigating their bizarre writings and beliefs in the same way they did supporters of Terri's life....

The news show Frontline published the following artwork by Kevorkian. You can read Kevorkian's description of his pieces by clicking on the titles.

Brotherhood
kev1.gif
Fever
kev2.gif
The Gourmet (War)
kev3.gif
Nearer My God to Thee
kev4.gif
Very Still Life
kev5.gif


Comments:

Sick.

Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 10:48 AM


hmmmm, I am going to get pure hell for this, but here it goes:


Kevorkian's assisted suicide doesnt bother me. The patients he helped (not the depressed ones) were very ill and in pain. If I was like that, and knew I was dying a slow painful death, I would want and seek out a way to kill myself. I dont think people should suffer like that, but alas, that is my opinion.

As for his drawings, they are a little twisted, but if that is how he chooses to be creative, whatever. Everyone displays their creative sides in a different way. Although I must say Jill, I've never heard of him experimenting with cadaver blood, that is news to me.

As for Terry Schiavo, I am not going to comment. It's none of my business. But I will say this, I have a living will. And it says directly I do not want to live in a vegetative state. If a machine is what's keeping me alive in any way shape or form, my parents have explicit instructions to pull the cord and let me die. I dont think that is the way a person is meant to live. But then again, just my opinion....

Posted by: midnite678 at June 11, 2007 11:01 AM


Did you read the descriptions for artwork? It puts them in context

Posted by: JK at June 11, 2007 11:07 AM


Before the wrath of Hell descends upon you Midnight, I'll just add I agree with you completely. I am glad Kevorkian has been released from prison.

Posted by: hal at June 11, 2007 11:12 AM


JK~

I read them, but I am still sticking to my first statement. His artowrk is twisted and some what crazy/delusional, but if that is how he wants to be creatie, whatever, it doesnt bother me.

Posted by: midnite678 at June 11, 2007 11:12 AM


I am in the medical profession, and I have been with many people upon drawing their final breath. I found his art work interesting, but why did he feel that people slip into "nothingness?" I have seen the exact opposite to be true. I'd need several hours to tell you what I have seen and heard. It is amazing. Not everyone is afraid to die. I'm not. Some terminally ill people are at great peace. It was my experiences with the terminally ill that helped to convince me that there IS an afterlife.

Posted by: Heather4life at June 11, 2007 11:17 AM


Hal-

I guess you can keep me company in hell then. LOL

Posted by: midnite678 at June 11, 2007 11:17 AM


Hello all. midnite, nice to see you back. Gotta run.

Posted by: Heather4life at June 11, 2007 11:19 AM


Heather-

Had a nice relaxing weekend at the lake. Not internet for me to debate on. Nice to see you too :-)

Posted by: midnite678 at June 11, 2007 11:21 AM


Honestly, I had heard a rumor that Kevorkian had died in prison. This was big news to me. OK now I REALLY must go.

Posted by: Heather4life at June 11, 2007 11:23 AM


Yes, I agree it is twisted. But going to art school I've seen sick and twisted artwork from completely sane people.

Welcome back midnite, hope you had fun this weekend!

Posted by: JK at June 11, 2007 11:25 AM


Does any one ever ask if by killing someone who is trying to escape suffering is actually going to a better place? Is the hope annilation or heaven? Is one sure that he is simply not jumping from the frying pan into the fire? Kevorkian is a very sick and evil man because he can't give a definitive answer to that question but does not hesitate to push people over the side. It's the ultimate cowardice.

Somehow, in our post-modern age, all suffering is to be avoided without analyzing that there may be a purpose for it. Don't want to deal with the suffering of having an unwanted child? Just abort it. Don't want to deal with the temporary suffering of an illness? Just commit suicide. The problem is, when you do this, you miss the blessing.

Having someone kill you is suicide, plain and simple. Does any one wonder why the MSM embraces him? They are just as sick and evil and terrified of the truth, so much so, that they are pathological liars.

Without knowing all this other stuff about Kevorkian, this just confirms what I already knew, which is simply that what he does is absolutely wrong. We should not surprised by the demonic artwork he produces since he is obviously possessed by the spirit of death. He is no physician, just as abortionists are not physicians. They are death mechanics.

The obsession with death is a coping mechanism for those who are terrified with it and cannot face it head on.

The Apostle Paul rhetorically asks, "death, where is thy sting"? A question that can only be asked by someone who is sure of his eternal condition by faith in Jesus Christ.

Yes, non-believers are utterly terrified of what's on the other side and they will never admit it because they are self-decieved. Don't believe a word of it. They are so terrified of death, they even lie to themselves that they are not, so in some strange way, they can cope with it. If you tell yourself a lie long enough even you will believe it in a fruitless and vain attempt to cover the fear and pain.

The resulting psychopathology is that somehow killing others, under the guise of compassion, be it pro-choice or pro-euthanasia, simply demonstates the power of sin to twist, deceive, corrupt and lie with the sole purpose of killing, stealing and destroying life.

Satan's clawprints are everywhere to be found on abortion and euthanasia.

The courageous position is admission that you need a Savior and in repentance, humbly asking His forgiveness. Believing that, one can be assured of a secure hereafter.

Death is never the answer to a life question be it abortion or euthanasia.

Posted by: HisMan at June 11, 2007 11:28 AM


Thank you JK.

It was a blast, no drama, just good ole' southern cooking and drinking at the lake, lol. It was the best b/c I finally got to go wakeboarding again (I was in physical therapy all last summer and couldnt do anything remotely fun). So I got to do what I *love*. Oh and lay out in the sun and soak up some rays..

Posted by: midnite678 at June 11, 2007 11:31 AM


Sweet....

I want some southern cooking....and to lay in the sun all day

:-)

Posted by: JK at June 11, 2007 11:33 AM


Oh it was soo good. Ever had drunken chicken?

Posted by: midnite678 at June 11, 2007 11:38 AM


Hisman, I must respectfully disagree that admitting the need for a Savior and asking forgiveness is a more courageous position than Dr. Kevorkian's work. You can certainly disagree with what he did, but I can't believe anyone would say it wasn't courageous. How many people risk prison for their beliefs?

Does it really take courage to believe what everyone else believes and put all your hope in God?

you wrote: "Kevorkian is a very sick and evil man because he can't give a definitive answer to that question but does not hesitate to push people over the side. It's the ultimate cowardice."

A coward wouldn't jump into the unknown. that takes courage.

Posted by: hal at June 11, 2007 11:38 AM


No, but people say its really good

Posted by: JK at June 11, 2007 11:40 AM


And it's 89 degrees here already (not even noon yet), so the sun is hot and ready for sunbathers, lol. Although, we're in a stage three drought, so we do need some rain. Anyone know a rain dance I can do?

Posted by: midnite678 at June 11, 2007 11:40 AM


Oh JK, I've got the best recipee for it if you ever want to try it (I must insist that you do)! Oh it's almost divine... But you must use the right beer or it tastes awful!!

Posted by: midnite678 at June 11, 2007 11:43 AM


I'm not much of a cook but I can try it.

Posted by: JK at June 11, 2007 11:44 AM


HisMan-

I must agree with Hal. If people were too scare to jump into the unknown, we wouldnt have the society we live in today. Heck, Chistopher Columbus sailed off thinking the world was round. Everyone thought he was crazy and *knew* he would fall off the face of the earth. Think about, our society would not be as advanced as it is now, without people who were willing to take risks and jump into the unknown.

Posted by: midnite678 at June 11, 2007 11:46 AM


It's amazing to see what depths abortion advocates will go to to defend homocide. It never ceases to amaze me.

Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 11:49 AM


JK,

I shall post it for you in a bit. I've got to go take a shower and go to the doctor's office for my CC treatment. I'll also give you a tip for cooking asparagus as well.

I shall return later :-)!!

Posted by: midnite678 at June 11, 2007 11:50 AM


hope all goes well @ the doctor's office :-)

Posted by: JK at June 11, 2007 11:54 AM


Bethany, we defending both homocide AND suicide.

Posted by: hal at June 11, 2007 11:55 AM


Hisman, I must respectfully disagree that admitting the need for a Savior and asking forgiveness is a more courageous position than Dr. Kevorkian's work. You can certainly disagree with what he did, but I can't believe anyone would say it wasn't courageous. How many people risk prison for their beliefs?
Does it really take courage to believe what everyone else believes and put all your hope in God?
you wrote: "Kevorkian is a very sick and evil man because he can't give a definitive answer to that question but does not hesitate to push people over the side. It's the ultimate cowardice."
A coward wouldn't jump into the unknown. that takes courage.

Hal, I'm sorry but I fail to see how killing someone is courage.

Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 11:55 AM


Bethany, we defending both homocide AND suicide.

Yeah, pretty sick, eh?

Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 11:57 AM


Bethany,

I am not defending homicde (and I am suprised you would say that about me). The people that he helped committ suicide *wanted* to die, and I dont blame them. I wouldnt want to to live in pain and anguish either. They were dying a slow painful death, and honestly why should they? If I was in that situation, I am more than 90% positive I would commit suicide. Why shouldnt a person be allowed to end their life on their terms, instead of the terms of their disease?

Ok, I really must go now.... tootles!!

Posted by: midnite678 at June 11, 2007 11:57 AM


I am not defending homicde (and I am suprised you would say that about me). The people that he helped committ suicide *wanted* to die, and I dont blame them. I wouldnt want to to live in pain and anguish either. They were dying a slow painful death, and honestly why should they? If I was in that situation, I am more than 90% positive I would commit suicide. Why shouldnt a person be allowed to end their life on their terms, instead of the terms of their disease?

Midnite, its not an insult...it's literally what you are all doing. Honestly.


Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 11:59 AM


homicide
A noun
1 homicide
the killing of a human being by another human being

Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 12:01 PM


The problem is, just like what happens all the time in our culture today, people are making judgments on this issue before doing any type of in depth research. If they knew why this movement and people like Kevorkian are trying to legalize assisted-suicide they would learn that it has absolutely nothing to do with terminal illness.

All you have to do is look to the Netherlands, Switzerland and even Oregon to see firsthand the abuses that are now taking place.

These are the same places that initially said they would have the strictest guidelines before an assisted-suicide could take place. Well, there is now ample proof that these guidelines are being misused, particularly in the Netherlands and Switzerland where these "safeguards" have become pretty much become nonexistent.

In fact, what is happening over there is horrifying and has gotten so bad that there are parts of Europe where people are actually beginning to carry, "Do not euthanize me cards" in their wallets.

So much for guidelines.

Assisted-suicide has nothing to do with compassion, but rather total abandonment of the person.

Posted by: Bobby Schindler at June 11, 2007 12:18 PM


Hal,

You seem to be a man in pain. One who wants to admit there is a God but can't. Not sure why, but you could talk to your therapist about it, however, nothing they tell you will help.

Also, I would recommend that you stop following his or her advice since it is obvious that blogging on this site is some sort of therapy for you which I guarantee will not work in trying to mitigate and assuage the guilt you feel for having aborted your first two children.

And I freely admit it. I am a man who who would be totally and utterly lost without Jesus Christ. To admit anything else would be a denial of truth and a complete indication of a lack of intelligence.

This is not fantasy stuff. These are real, heaven/hell, life/death issues. These are not opinions. You would be wise to stop playing games.

Midnight,

It's hard to take any of what you say seriously with all the other clutter you talk about.

Posted by: HisMan at June 11, 2007 12:24 PM


Bobby, thank you so much for your post. If only people would look around them and see the stuff the way you mentioned. It's sick and twisted. It has nothing to do with compassion, rather selfishness.

Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 12:26 PM


Hisman, I'm in no particular pain (no life is free completely--but I'm doing pretty good). I will say you are wrong about at least one thing: I have no desire "to admit there is a God."

[I've edited out several paragraphs here that would enrage belivers unnecessarily]

Things you say are "not fantasy stuff," but "real, heaven/hell, life/death issues," are indeed fantasies. That's not an opinion, that's a fact. (see how it sounds on the other foot?)

I'm not sure why I visit this site, but it's not to assuage any guilt. I'm free of guilt. (and we aborted our first and forth children, if it matters. Not the first two.)

Finally, it's lines like this that make it all worthwhile and keep me laughing when I visit you guys:
"You would be wise to stop playing games."

Like the "God will not be mocked" comments, I get a real kick out of the earnestness of your views.

Posted by: Hal at June 11, 2007 12:39 PM


I see no problem in ending the life of a person who will never know anything but great suffering and pain for the rest of their life. Like midnite, I have a living will. I would never want to live solely via machine, unable to do anything to better myself or the world. That's NOT life- that's a shell of a person. Can people honestly say, yes, I would like to live for 6, 7, 25 years, unable to think or communicate, just so my friends and family can PRETEND that I am alive? It is SO much healthier just to let go so that they can grieve.

Posted by: Erin at June 11, 2007 1:05 PM


I see no problem in ending the life of a person who will never know anything but great suffering and pain for the rest of their life. Like midnite, I have a living will. I would never want to live solely via machine, unable to do anything to better myself or the world. That's NOT life- that's a shell of a person. Can people honestly say, yes, I would like to live for 6, 7, 25 years, unable to think or communicate, just so my friends and family can PRETEND that I am alive? It is SO much healthier just to let go so that they can grieve.

I don't know if it was your intention or not, but I find it kind of interesting that you say nothing of the invididual person's desire to live, simply that if they're in pain, or hooked up to a machine (you really didn't specify what kind of machine) in your opinion, they are not "truly living", but a "shell of a person" and therefore we must assume that anyone living that way would automatically desire to be dead. ? Do you assume that anyone living in pain and suffering desires to die?


Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 1:13 PM


Also....

How do you define "pain" and "suffering" exactly?

If someone had murdered Elephant man, would you have found it acceptable and assume it was what he probably wanted?
Did you know that regardless of the fact of what he went through, he still desired to live, despite his pain, suffering, and looks?

Would it be acceptable in your opinion, to kill all children who have diseases... Spinal Muscular Atrophy, for instance, because they are going to live a life of pain and suffering if they are not "put out of their misery"?

You know, some of those children with SMA have lost the ability to breathe on their own, and have to be hooked up to machines to help them breathe. Are they only a "shell of a person"?

Click here for a video

There are so many other examples of people suffering and living on machines, but having the will to live. I do not understand how you or anyone can feel that you have the right to say that anyone who is living a life of pain and suffering would automatically be deemed worthy of death.

Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 1:43 PM


Okay I have more to say...

Are Parapalegics worthy of life? Or are they "selfish" if they desire to continue living, despite the fact that others have to give them extra help and support?

Are amputee's with no limbs worthy of life? Or are they "selfish" if they desire to live in a "normal" person's world?

Or what about those children with tumors that are so large you can't even see their faces? What about children with Spina Bifida?

The list could go on and on....

Maybe a better question to pose is...what person IS qualified to live, in your opinion, if they make any other persons' life more difficult or impose any burden on another individual?

Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 1:55 PM


Bethany- You misunderstand what I'm saying. I'm saying that in HOPELESS cases- take advancing Huntington's disease, for example, if a person lapsed into a coma and all brain activity ceased, I absolutely consider that person dead. I consider life to end when functioning brain activity stops. I have mixed feelings on assisted suicide- but keeping people's essentially dead bodies alive for years on end seems masochistic and pointless to me.

Posted by: Erin at June 11, 2007 2:07 PM


Like many on here, I have a will that specifies my wish to be taken off machines, if that is all that is keeping me alive. I don't particularly fear death, and I would much rather head to whatever comes after than spend years and years sponging off of the care of my fiance or parents, and draining their money in a pointless effort to keep me "alive." If someone else wants to stay alive, even if machines are there, that's great, not my concern. But, were it not for the machines, I would be dead anyway: why interfere with what nature obviously intended?

Posted by: HumanAbstract Author Profile Page at June 11, 2007 2:08 PM


Bethany, for Pete's sake.

They aren't saying that all people who are disabled, ugly, ill, or "imperfect" should be euthanized.

They are saying that that is what someone wants, let them have it. If someone with a terminal illness wants to be euthanized or makes it clear in their will that they are NOT to be kept alive in a vegetative state, then they should be allowed to die.

What a way to twist words.

Posted by: Stephanie at June 11, 2007 2:11 PM


Erin, we are talking about totally different things then. This post was about a man who is euthanizing people who are merely going through depression in some cases. Do you think those are justified? Don't you think it would be better to try to encourage them, and help give them a reason to live, rather than encourage their temporary desire to die? They could very well turn around and be a very productive member of society, if not having lost all hope.

Giving into their suicidal desires...guess what message that gives them? They thought they were worthless, and they really were.
Isn't that a sad message to tell someone who is depressed? Yes, I'll kill you, cause I don't condsider your life any more important than you do right now.
Ugh it makes me sick....so sick.


Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 2:12 PM


HisMan-

You know, just when I start to think you're not all that bad, you surprise me yet again. It's not clutter. I was having a separate conversation with Bethany, JK & you. None of my other two conversations were directed towards you now were they? I don't think my conversations are clutter, but whatever, you (& Jasper) know everything apparently.

Posted by: midnite678 at June 11, 2007 2:13 PM


Stephanie , how did I twist words? I was responding to this quote:
"I see no problem in ending the life of a person who will never know anything but great suffering and pain for the rest of their life. "

Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 2:13 PM


Bethany- I'm more focused on the Terri Schaivo case. My opinions are far too varied on assisted suicide. I do know that I firmly believed that Terri should have had her feeding tube removed and was glad when she did. Her husband was more informed on her wishes than her parents, and honestly- does ANYONE want to 'live' like that?

Posted by: Erin at June 11, 2007 2:15 PM


Wallace failed to mention that not only were over half of Kevorkian's 130 victims not terminally ill, but a number were suffering primarily from depression and had no serious physical ailments whatsoever. The autopsies performed on his patients exposed this disturbing truth.

OVER HALF!!

Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 2:16 PM


Bethany- I'm more focused on the Terri Schaivo case. My opinions are far too varied on assisted suicide. I do know that I firmly believed that Terri should have had her feeding tube removed and was glad when she did. Her husband was more informed on her wishes than her parents, and honestly- does ANYONE want to 'live' like that?

Erin, I had a feeling that Terri Schiavo was on your mind. Did you not read all the evidence that proved that Terri Schiavo was NOT in a persistent vegetative state, and the thing helping her to live was a feeding tube, nothing like artificial life support. Is it so artificial to give someone something basic like food and water?

I don't remember if you were posting here at the time or not, but read the comments in this thread, some by Bobby Schiedler, who is Terri's brother, proving many things about Terri that you may not know.
http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2007/03/death_angel_vs.html#comments


Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 2:20 PM


I do know that I firmly believed that Terri should have had her feeding tube removed and was glad when she did. Her husband was more informed on her wishes than her parents, and honestly- does ANYONE want to 'live' like that?

How do you know she didn't enjoy living?

Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 2:24 PM


I do know that I firmly believed that Terri should have had her feeding tube removed and was glad when she did. Her husband was more informed on her wishes than her parents, and honestly- does ANYONE want to 'live' like that?

Also, she was starved and dehydrated to death for 14 days....does ANYONE want to die like that?

Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 2:25 PM


Watch these videos...she is totally responding ...there is no reflex action here...she was responsive to questions, jokes (laughing), etc... You can tell by these videos that her family sure did love her too.

http://www.terrisfight.org/quicklinks.php?id=50

Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 2:36 PM


The patients he helped (not the depressed ones) were very ill and in pain.
--------------------

Bethany,

I think I made it fairly clear above that I've got not problem with assisted suicide if the patient is truly suffering from a disease that is killing them any ways. Now then, since it is assisted suicide, I don't consider that to be a homicide. A homicide to me is a drive by shooting, or a mother drowning her three children. But alas, this another area where we shall disagree one (besides abortion obviously). I just don't see the problem with assisted suicide if the person *WANTS* to die. (ONCE again, not talking about someone who is depressed or something not life threatening. I am talking about an incurable disease that kills the person slowly).

As with Terry Schiavo, once again, not commenting besides: that is the SOLE reason I have a living will. I *personally* wouldn't want to live that way, my parents know that, my BF knows it, and I have a legal notarized document saying that I don't.

Posted by: midnite678 at June 11, 2007 2:42 PM


I think I made it fairly clear above that I've got not problem with assisted suicide if the patient is truly suffering from a disease that is killing them any ways. Now then, since it is assisted suicide, I don't consider that to be a homicide.

If you kill someone simply because they want to die, the message is that their life has no value.
Some here really do believe that human beings have no value, or at least they claim this, and in this case, I can see why they would support assisted suicide and abortion. Though I completely disagree!

Suffering can be eased....killing someone who is a burden is easier than trying to find a way to ease someone's pain; therefore death is an easy way out for physicans or family members who don't want to be burdened by someone else in pain. It's all about burdens being eased. It's not about compassion. It's just not.

Midnite, would you WANT to live life as a burn victim, with scars all over your face and body? I'm pretty sure no one does. However, do you realize how many burn victims there are who actually WANT to live, and who have found a purpose on this earth, despite those difficulties?

Would you WANT to live your life in a wheelchair? Who would? However, how many people live their entire lives in wheelchairs and are happy?

If this is the case, then how can we claim we "know" what other people would want, when we don't have the ability to see inside their minds to know?

How do we know that someone asking for assisted suicide is really not crying out for someone to please give them a reason to live? What if what they really desire is someone who cares about them? But since they feel they have no one who does, they think death is the obvious solution?


Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 2:56 PM


I've gotta run for now...this topic makes my stomach literally churn.

Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 2:58 PM


No Bethany, you're taking my words all wrong. I am talking about someone with a terminally ill diseases who verbally says "I want to end my life. I want to kill myself". I am NOT talking about people who are on life support/feeding tubes, whatever. In those cases, I know my family's wishes and they know mine, end of story. It should be up to the person who is in that state whether they want to live or die. But not everyone has a living will as I do.

Does that make more sense to you now?

Posted by: midnite678 at June 11, 2007 3:19 PM


Are you opposed to Kevorkian's euthanizing people based on depression?

Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 7:33 PM


And by opposed, I mean, would you consider him a murderer?

Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 7:34 PM


Jill, I just read that awful article about Kevorkian.....EW!!!!
I am going to post it here so everyone will get a chance to see what a sick individual he is...

by Jeff Hooten

"....Jack Kevorkian insists he is not obsessed with death. During his medical residency, Kevorkian donned a black arm band and asked to work the night shift because more patients died then. He carted around a camera to photograph patients' eyes at the moment of death. Co-workers nicknamed him Dr. Death, and he jokingly called his late-night quest "the death rounds." This is detailed in Appointment With Doctor Death, the book by Detroit reporter Michael Betzold.

But Kevorkian is not obsessed with death.

An accomplished artist, Kevorkian's paintings are filled with detached organs and severed heads. Maggots, blood and bullets. Skulls and suffering. Cannibalism. His artistic rendering of Christmas shows Santa's boot crushing a baby lying in a fireplace. Religion is a favorite target: In a painting titled Give Us This Day a half-man/half-baby is shown eating the flesh off a decomposing corpse.

But he's not obsessed with death.

Early in his career, Kevorkian advocated medical experimentation on death-row inmates. He has since expanded on the idea by suggesting that condemned prisoners be allowed to auction off their organs. At one point, he proposed that anyone sentenced to more than three years in prison be given the option of assisted suicide.

Over at Pontiac General Hospital, he experimented with transfusing blood from corpses into live patients. (Former guinea pig Neal Nicol once got such a severe case of hepatitis from cadaver blood that his eyeballs turned orange.) Kevorkian even mixed cadaver blood with his own and used it to paint the frame for one of his works.

But he's not obsessed with death.

Public support is high for Kevorkian's crusade. According to a recent Gallup poll, about 75 percent of Americans now favor physician-assisted suicide. To many Americans Kevorkian is a compassionate if eccentric man who wants nothing more than to end people's suffering. But do those same Americans know the Jack Kevorkian who once tried to organize an exhibit of Adolf Hitler's artwork, the Kevorkian who said carbon monoxide gives corpses a "lovely rosy glow, the Kevorkian who said Jesus Christ would have been better off dying in the back of his rusty van?

Kevorkian has been generating corpses at an accelerated pace since May, when he was

acquitted for a third time of violating Michigan's ban on assisted suicide. In mid-August, Kevorkian broke his own record by performing four so-called "medicides" in a week. "Now he really feels he's off and running, and no one can stop him," said Yale Kamisar, a University of Michigan constitutional law professor and expert on the issue of assisted suicide. "It's unlikely that he'll ever be convicted unless he makes a mistake."

Mistake? Take the case of Rebecca Badger, Kevorkian suicide No. 33. This 39-year-old mother of two was depressed and in pain. Her doctors diagnosed her with multiple sclerosis. On July 9, Kevorkian "treated" her. One problem. Badger didn't have MS.

Just five weeks after Badger's death, Kevorkian “assisted" 42-year-old Judith Curren. Kevorkian attorney Geoffrey Fieger said Curren suffered from chronic fatigue and immune-deficiency syndrome, as well as the muscle disorder fibromyalgia. But the Oakland County medical examiner said he could find no evidence of any disease in Curren. Even if he had, none of Curren’s maladies is considered fatal.

The Oakland County, Michigan, medical examiner said he did find that Curren likely was worn out from carrying 269 pounds on a 5-foot, 1-inch frame. Curren probably experienced depression-90 percent of chronic-fatigue sufferers do. She took potentially addictive drugs. Reports also surfaced widely that Curren had accused her husband of domestic abuse, prompting speculation that she was looking to escape a bad marriage. So what if Curren in fact wasn't terminal? "It has nothing to do with lethality, it's quality of life," Kevorkian said on "Dateline NBC."

Will Dr. Death ever quit? After his third acquittal, Kevorkian said the only way to stop him would be to bum him at the stake.

Opponents of physician-assisted suicide say Kevorkian is a bizarre man on the fringe of medical practice. Rita Marker, executive director of the International Anti-Euthanasia Task Force, said Kevorkian already has reset the boundaries of acceptability in the United States. In comparison with Kevorkian, a suicide doctor with a Marcus Welby-like demeanor will suddenly seem eminently reasonable.

"There will be those who will be Kevorkian with class,,, Marker said. "They will look respectable. They will sound respectable. Their patients will be just as dead."

Welcome to the slippery slope. "

Posted by: Bethany at June 11, 2007 7:36 PM


*shrugs*

I think Kevorkian was a complete idiot for doing what he did.

But I have no problem with euthanasia if the person has it in writing that that is what they want should they be in a certain situation. It shouldn't be up to anybody else but the person who is being euthanized.

That being said...I have a living will to have the "plug pulled" if I were ever in a PVS or in an irreversible coma. If I were to get a degenerative brain disease like Alzheimer's, I would want to be euthanized once the symptoms got bad enough. If other people don't want to be euthanized, that's not my problem, they don't have to be if they don't want to be, however I do.

Posted by: Rae at June 11, 2007 7:52 PM


Something about abortion being safe, legal and rare?

Today we assist a suicide, tomorrow we Euthanize Alzheimers patients...

Yesterday abortion was illegal and rare, today we abort 90% of downs syndrome kids...

Slippery, slippery slope...

Makes me think of a Toby Keith song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYrlzEUuBIM

Posted by: MK Author Profile Page at June 11, 2007 8:20 PM


@MK: That song is so funny. :) The video is absolutely hilarious...It's one of the *few* country songs that doesn't make me want to vomit. :-p

Posted by: Rae at June 11, 2007 8:26 PM


Rae,

You guys were talkin' about hating country music, and while I'm no fan myself, a friend of mine turned me on to this song when we were camping. I couldn't remember who sang it and had to email her...just got the answer today...

It's a riot no?

Posted by: MK Author Profile Page at June 11, 2007 8:41 PM


@MK: It is. I love "Pimp" Toby Keith...it makes me giggle...that and the "surgeon" one too. :D It's a silly video, and Toby Keith does have some pretty funny songs like, "I'll never smoke weed with Willy [Nelson] again..."

Posted by: Rae at June 11, 2007 8:47 PM


Who do you think Toby wants to talk about? LOL

Posted by: Heather4life at June 11, 2007 8:49 PM


Does anyone know approximately how old Kevorkian is? Does anyone think he'll go back to working around death? Anyone think he'll assist another suicide?

Posted by: Heather4life at June 11, 2007 9:21 PM


He's pretty old. I hear he has his own health problems too, so you probably won't have to worry about him for much longer.

Posted by: JK at June 11, 2007 9:33 PM


Anyone think he'll assist another suicide?

Actually, at his age, he'll probably be looking for someone to assist his suicide...

Posted by: MK Author Profile Page at June 11, 2007 9:47 PM


I don't have much of anything to say about this post, or in response to anyone has said.

But...I kind of like his artwork. It's interesting to look at.

Posted by: Heather B. at June 12, 2007 7:45 AM


MK.. LOL! I hate to say this but a great majority of people that I have talked to about this really act like the guy was some sort of hero. They feel that as long as the "sick" person gave him the green light, he did nothing wrong.

Posted by: Heather4life at June 12, 2007 9:38 AM


Speaking of assisted suicide, anyone seen El Mar Adentro? Translation: The Sea Inside? Interesting to see what you all think.

Posted by: prettyinpink at June 12, 2007 10:10 AM