Jack Kevorkian dies at 83

[AMT]

linky

Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the Michigan pathologist convicted and jailed for participating in assisted suicides of terminally ill people, died early Friday, his lawyer told local media.
Kevorkian, 83, died at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich., where he had been hospitalized for about two weeks with kidney and heart problems.
The lawyer, Mayer Morganroth, said it appears Kevorkian suffered a pulmonary thrombosis when a blood clot from his leg broke free and lodged in his heart, according to the Detroit Free Press.
"It was peaceful. He didn't feel a thing," Morganroth told the newspaper.
Morganroth told the Free Press that the hospital staff, doctors and nurses said Kevorkian's passing was "a tremendous loss and I agree with them. He did so much."
No plans for memorial
Morganroth told the paper that he doubts anyone will assume Kevorkian's role in assisted suicide: "Who else would take those kind of risks?"
Morganroth said there are no plans for any memorial.
Kevorkian, believed to have assisted in 130 suicides, was convicted of second-degree murder in 1999 and sentenced to 10-25 years in prison but was released in 2007. Last year, he was the subject of "You Don't Know Jack," an HBO movie starring Al Pacino.

[Elheru Aran]

Without getting into the potential shitstorm over euthanasia versus assisted suicide versus murder or whatever...

I can't say I'm particularly going to cry too much over this. I never thought too highly of him or his work, although I understand the desire to not prolong painful dying processes. I don't feel like he really contributed much to the world aside from controversy and a few deaths.

[Steven Snyder]

Rest in Peace doc.

[erik_t]

A majority of Oregon thanks him (or should).

[Lagmonster]

Without getting into the potential shitstorm over euthanasia versus assisted suicide versus murder or whatever...

There's no real point to this thread unless people DO want to talk about the shitstorm over assisted suicide. Or you knew the guy personally. It was his willingness to brave controversy that is worth talking about, and to consider his legacy - specifically whether what he did actually helped his cause.

[Dominus Atheos]

A majority of Oregon thanks him (or should).

Also a majority of Washingtonians and a majority of the Montanian Supreme Court.

[Alyrium Denryle]

A majority of Oregon thanks him (or should).

Also a majority of Washingtonians and a majority of the Montanian Supreme Court.

Also people who realize that a mercy we extend to a terminally ailing pet should also be extended to a terminally ailing loved one.